Twenty-five years of Democracy in Argentina The search for the disappeared Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights Lic. Silvana Turner Argentine Forensic.

Twenty-five Twenty-five yearsyears of of DemocracyDemocracy in Argentinain Argentina

The search for the disappeared The search for the disappeared

Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology and Human RightsHuman Rights

Lic. Silvana TurnerLic. Silvana Turner

Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF)Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF)www.eaaf.orgwww.eaaf.org

Political violence Political violence in Latin Americain Latin America

Disappeared/killed by political reasons (1960 – Disappeared/killed by political reasons (1960 – present): present):

Guatemala (250.000)Guatemala (250.000) Colombia (100.000)Colombia (100.000) El Salvador (75.000)El Salvador (75.000) Peru (70.000)Peru (70.000) Argentina (10.000)Argentina (10.000) Chile (3.000)Chile (3.000)

Gral. Pinochet

Mothers of Plaza de MayoMothers of Plaza de Mayo

Some Truth CommissionsSome Truth Commissions

Argentina (1983/84) 1976-83 Argentina (1983/84) 1976-83 Chile (1990/91) Chile (1990/91) 1973-90 1973-90 El Salvador (1992/93) El Salvador (1992/93) 1980-91 1980-91 Guatemala (1997/99) Guatemala (1997/99) 1962-96 1962-96 Peru (2001/03) Peru (2001/03) 1980-00 1980-00

Military dictatorship: March 24, 1976

Self-amnesty Law (Law 22.924): Sept. 27, 1983

Return to democracy: Dec. 10, 1983

Self-amnesty Law Annulment.(Law 23.050): Dec. 29,1983

CONADEP’s official report: Sept. 20,1984

Chronology 1Chronology 1

Disposal of Bodies Disposal of Bodies

Search and recoveryof remains1984

Search and recoveryof remains1984

forensic specialists

Judiciary, Prosecutor's office, Police

Not very independent

Cases of complicity

Few independent options

No anthropologist, archaeologists, etc

No integration of families/communities

Forensic system in Latin America

Victims’ relativesVictims’ relatives

EAAF foundation (1984)EAAF foundation (1984)

Independent forensic alternative to the official Independent forensic alternative to the official forensic system. forensic system.

Focuses on the investigation of human rights Focuses on the investigation of human rights violationsviolations

Special emphasis:Special emphasis: the rights of the relatives/communities of the rights of the relatives/communities of

disappeared people,disappeared people, their necessity to know and participate.their necessity to know and participate.

•Trials of Top Junta Members:April 22, 1985

•Full Stop Law:Dec. 5, 1986

•Due Obedience Impunity Law: May 13, 1987

•Amnesty Law (1st Presidential pardon):Oct. 30, 1989

•Amnesty Law (2nd Presidential pardon):Dec. 28, 1990

Chronology 2Chronology 2

Dr. Clyde SnowDr. Clyde Snow

EAAF’s international workEAAF’s international work(1986-2008)(1986-2008)

AFRICAAFRICA

AngolaAngola

DRCDRC

EthiopiaEthiopia

Ivory Ivory CoastCoast

KenyaKenya

MoroccoMorocco

NamibiaNamibia

Sierra Sierra LeoneLeone

South South AfricaAfrica

SudanSudan

TogoTogo

ZimbabweZimbabwe

AMERICAAMERICA

BoliviaBolivia

BrazilBrazil

ChileChile

ColombiaColombia

El El SalvadorSalvador

GuatemalaGuatemala

HaitiHaiti

HondurasHonduras

MexicoMexico

PanamaPanama

ParaguayParaguay

PeruPeru

UruguayUruguay

VenezuelaVenezuela

EUROPEEUROPE

BosniaBosnia

CroatiaCroatia

CyprusCyprus

GeorgiaGeorgia

KosovoKosovo

RomaniaRomania

ASIAASIA

East East TimorTimor

IraqIraq

NepalNepal

PhilippinePhilippiness

OCEANIAOCEANIA

French French PolynesiaPolynesia

EAAF’s objectivesEAAF’s objectives

To provide evidence in court/special commissions of To provide evidence in court/special commissions of inquiry.inquiry.

To assist the relatives of the victims in pursuit of their To assist the relatives of the victims in pursuit of their rights to recover the remains of their loved ones.rights to recover the remains of their loved ones.

To collaborate in the training of new teams in other To collaborate in the training of new teams in other countries where investigations into human rights countries where investigations into human rights violations are necessary. violations are necessary.

To contribute to the historical reconstruction of the To contribute to the historical reconstruction of the recent past.recent past.

Forensic AnthropologyForensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology uses methods Forensic anthropology uses methods and techniques from physical and techniques from physical anthropology, archaeology, and anthropology, archaeology, and forensic medicine to investigate legal forensic medicine to investigate legal cases involving skeletal or almost cases involving skeletal or almost skeletonnized remains. skeletonnized remains.

EAAF investigation processEAAF investigation process

•Historical investigation:Historical investigation: Recovery and analysis of oral Recovery and analysis of oral and written sources.and written sources.

Collection of Ante Mortem dataCollection of Ante Mortem data•Archaeological work: Archaeological work:

Recovery and analysis of the Recovery and analysis of the findings.findings.•Laboratory analysis: Laboratory analysis:

Identification of remains, and Identification of remains, and determination of the cause of death.determination of the cause of death.

•Historical investigation:Historical investigation: Recovery and analysis of oral Recovery and analysis of oral and written sources.and written sources.

Collection of Ante Mortem dataCollection of Ante Mortem data•Archaeological work: Archaeological work:

Recovery and analysis of the Recovery and analysis of the findings.findings.•Laboratory analysis: Laboratory analysis:

Identification of remains, and Identification of remains, and determination of the cause of death.determination of the cause of death.

-EAAF--EAAF-

Zonas Argentina

Zona 2

Military division of the country

Map of Illegal Detention Centers

Map of cemeteries with NN graves (in red)

-EAAF--EAAF- 2020

Testimonies of victims at Truth Commission

Cemetery records

Intelligence reports

Media reports

“30 bodies were found in Pilar”

Collection of Collection of Ante Mortem informationAnte Mortem information

Building a relation of confidence and trust.Building a relation of confidence and trust. Respect cultural and religious context.Respect cultural and religious context. Interviews with different members of the Interviews with different members of the

family and friends.family and friends. More than one meeting, proper time and More than one meeting, proper time and

place.place. Use of specific forms.Use of specific forms. Specific strategy for blood/saliva samples for Specific strategy for blood/saliva samples for

DNA.DNA. Medical, anthropological, odontological Medical, anthropological, odontological

information. Persona effects, clothing.information. Persona effects, clothing.

East Timor, meeting with relatives before exhumations, 2005

Darfur, Sudan, 2004, recording graves

How to organize the How to organize the information?information?

The use of computer experts: working with The use of computer experts: working with investigators.investigators.

Defining what do we want to collect.Defining what do we want to collect. Data bases on: Data bases on: List of victims (name, sex, age, date of disapp., place).List of victims (name, sex, age, date of disapp., place). Ante mortem information.Ante mortem information. Location of possible grave sites.Location of possible grave sites. Chronology of the conflict.Chronology of the conflict. Information from the media.Information from the media. Official documents.Official documents. Sharing information among NGO´s.Sharing information among NGO´s. Security of the information.Security of the information.

22ndnd stage - Forensic stage - Forensic ArchaeologyArchaeology

Forensic archaeology applies the techniques of the Forensic archaeology applies the techniques of the traditional archaeology to a legal context. traditional archaeology to a legal context.

Capacity and knowledge to analyze a “crime scene” Capacity and knowledge to analyze a “crime scene” that involves exhumation of bodies, recovery of that involves exhumation of bodies, recovery of remains and objects spread about the surface. remains and objects spread about the surface.

Minimum field team:Minimum field team: Forensic physician, Forensic Forensic physician, Forensic anthropologist/archaeologist, Scene of crime anthropologist/archaeologist, Scene of crime officers, Photographer, Planimetry, and Security. officers, Photographer, Planimetry, and Security.

GuatemalaGuatemala

South Africa

El Salvador

EthiopiaEthiopia

Croacia

Argentina

ArgentinaArgentina

El SalvadorEl Salvador

ArgentinaArgentina

ArgentinaArgentina

Interdisciplinary TeamInterdisciplinary Team

Forensic physician Forensic physician Forensic anthropologistForensic anthropologist Forensic odontologistForensic odontologist Forensic radiologistForensic radiologist Other disciplines (Biologists, Other disciplines (Biologists,

entomologists, chemists, etc.)entomologists, chemists, etc.)

Are the remains human? Is the case of forensic interest? How many individuals are there in the sample? Identification Cause of death

PREPARATION OF THE REMAINSPREPARATION OF THE REMAINS

X-RayingX-Raying

TakingTaking samplessamples

CLEANINGCLEANING

RECONSTRUCTIONRECONSTRUCTION

LABELLINGEXTENSION IN ANATOMICAL POSITION INVENTORYDEAL WITH NON BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE (records, transfers)

Biological ProfileBiological Profile

DETERMINATION OF SEXDETERMINATION OF SEX ESTIMATION OF AGEESTIMATION OF AGE ESTIMATION OF ANCESTRYESTIMATION OF ANCESTRY ESTIMATION OF STATUREESTIMATION OF STATURE DESCRIPTION OF PATHOLOGIES, DESCRIPTION OF PATHOLOGIES,

ANOMALIES & ANTE-MORTEN TRAUMAS ANOMALIES & ANTE-MORTEN TRAUMAS ODONTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ODONTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS COMPARISON OF PRE & POST-MORTEM COMPARISON OF PRE & POST-MORTEM

DATA: IDENTIFICATION DATA: IDENTIFICATION

EAAF

Identification of the victimsIdentification of the victims

The information from the study is contrasted with the ante-mortem The information from the study is contrasted with the ante-mortem data obtained through historical investigations and interviews with data obtained through historical investigations and interviews with relatives, as well as with the contextual information and artifacts relatives, as well as with the contextual information and artifacts from the excavation (type of burial, presence of ballistic material or from the excavation (type of burial, presence of ballistic material or elements indicative of violence, etc.). elements indicative of violence, etc.).

Hypothesis of identityHypothesis of identity

In the absence of medical, x-rays, dental records, etc., this In the absence of medical, x-rays, dental records, etc., this hypothesis should be verified through genetic analysis.hypothesis should be verified through genetic analysis.

Genetic analysisGenetic analysisIn the laboratory of molecular genetics the DNA extracted from bone In the laboratory of molecular genetics the DNA extracted from bone material of the skeleton (teeth, segments of large bones, etc.) is material of the skeleton (teeth, segments of large bones, etc.) is compared with the blood of the presumed familycompared with the blood of the presumed family.

LIDMO Laboratory

(Córdoba,Arg.)

• Number

• Location

• Sequence

• Trajectory

Gunshot wounds Gunshot wounds

Peri mortem: classification generally by causal agent

Argentina 1990 - 2008Argentina 1990 - 2008

1990- 2003 Absent by Forced Disappearance Law. Economic compensations for victims and relatives. Trials on child kidnapping (Condor Operation). Opening of processes on the disappearance of foreigners

(Spain, Italy, Sweden, France, Germany).

2003: Annulment of amnesty laws, with congressional support.

2005 Supreme Court overturns Due Obedience and Full Stop

immunity laws. Reopening of criminal cases.

2008 368 detained, 54 condemned, 60 fugitives, 64 trials. 95 young disappeared found by Grandmothers of Plaza de

Mayo. CDCs opened as remembrance places and museum.

EAAF’s achievementsEAAF’s achievementsin Argentinain Argentina

Exhumations: 1.100 Exhumations: 1.100 aprox.aprox.

Identifications: 300Identifications: 300 Blood samples: Blood samples:

6.0006.000 Bone samples: 600Bone samples: 600 Results expected: Results expected:

2008-20092008-2009 2009-2010: continue2009-2010: continue

Latin American Initiative for the Identification of the Disappeared (LIID)

ArgentinaArgentina