The
third annual Forensic DNA Symposium will be held at The President Hotel in Cape
Town on 13 and 14 June. Bringing together local and international forensic
experts, the symposium - the largest gathering of its kind in Africa - will
spotlight the crucial role of DNA analysis in criminal investigations and
humanitarian cases. While seats for the in-person event are fully subscribed,
those interested in attending can still register to join this immersive live
stream offering – at no cost.
Hosted
by forensic networking and information platform DNAforAfrica, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), the symposium will cover a number of key themes, including
advances in forensic DNA; gender-based violence initiatives – including sexual
violence in conflict; DNA policy; DNA databases; quality assurance, forensic
DNA case work; as well as case studies – including the issue of unidentified
bodies in African mortuaries and the Thabo Bester case.
"Africa represents an untapped
resource of expert forensic knowledge, experience, and insight. By connecting
African forensic practitioners, experts, and policymakers with the global
forensic community, we are creating opportunities to learn about and contribute
towards advancements in forensic science. At the end of the day, our goal is to
bring together people from both the public and private sector from all regions
in Africa – all of whom serve as dedicated changemakers in humanitarian
forensic action and crime resolution," says Vanessa Lynch, Regional Director
at DNAforAfrica.
Officers
of the court, law enforcement personnel, social workers, health personnel,
forensic practitioners, forensic laboratory personnel, and humanitarian
workers, as well as change advocates, will have an opportunity to interact and
present innovative solutions to the unique legal, scientific, technological,
and infrastructural challenges encountered in many African countries.
"These participants are all part of
the justice and medicolegal systems that protect and defend against
gender-based violence, femicide and crimes against humanity, while also meeting
the humanitarian needs of the affected victims and communities," says Stephen Fonseca,
Manager of the ICRC's African Centre for Medicolegal Systems.
"The use of forensic DNA evidence
in gender-based violence cases to aid the identification of offenders, even in
the absence of corroborative evidence, can increase the resolution of criminal
cases, and achieve justice for survivors of sexual, and physical violence –
this is one of the key topics that will be unpacked at the symposium," says Linda Naidoo,
National Project Officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional
Office for Southern Africa.
Panel
discussions will explore the challenge of complex DNA analysis and highly
degraded samples; effective communication of scientific evidence; the role of
DNA databases in driving humanitarian aid and justice efforts in Africa; and
more. To register for the online livestream, visit www.dnaforafrica.com/3fdnas2023.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
