UNIDENTIFIED BODIES AND MISSING MIGRANTS FORENSIC CHALLENGES

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1 UNIDENTIFIED BODIES AND MISSING MIGRANTS FORENSIC CHALLENGES TUNIS, SEPTEMBER 2014 LOURDES PENADOS REGIONAL FORENSIC ADVISOR ICRC 1

2 Person reported missing Unidentified human remains National authorities Antemortem Data Collection ANTEMORTEM DATA Information from the family Medical records Dental records DNA samples Additional information Jurisdiction AM-PM MATCH IDENTIFICATION Postmortem Data Collection POSTMORTEM DATA Information from the body Biological profile Dental charts DNA samples Additional data (clothes, personal belongings, etc.) Data protection

3 WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE DEAD BODIES OF MIGRANTS IN EUROPE? Greece 3

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6 WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE DEAD BODIES OF MIGRANTS IN EUROPE? Italy 6

7 WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE DEAD BODIES OF MIGRANTS IN EUROPE? Malta 7

8 WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE DEAD BODIES OF MIGRANTS? Spain 8

9 First Conference on the management and identification of unidentified decedents, with an emphasis on dead migrants: the experience of European Mediterranean countries. Milan, Italy - 22 and 23 November

10 MAIN FINDINGS Number of migrants who die in their attempt to reach Mediterranean European countries is grossly underrepresented in official statistics. Majority of dead migrants remain unidentified and therefore become missing persons Broad scope and need for action for improved communication, coordination and cooperation between stakeholders. 10

11 MAIN PROBLEMS FOR IDENTIFICATION Failure to use shared standardized protocols and forms for recording and managing information on dead migrants, at national and regional levels. Variable forensic capacity, ranging from excellent to very good in most large urban centers to poor and insufficient in some peripheral and rural settings where dead migrants may also be found. Lack of ante-mortem data and reference samples to compare with the findings from dead bodies for their identification. 11

12 MAIN PROBLEMS FOR IDENTIFICATION Insufficient collection of information of all unidentified bodies. (Post Mortem data) No centralized data base containing information on all non-identified dead decedents, including migrants, found both at national and European levels. Existing databases contain partial information and are not accessible by all concerned institutions and stakeholders, least by the victims themselves. 12

13 MAIN PROBLEMS FOR IDENTIFICATION Lack of formal mechanisms between National Red Cross Societies, the ICRC and concerned institutions in countries of origin and destination of migrants for transmitting and receiving information (e.g. Ante Mortem Data) which may help identify the dead and provide answers to bereaved families. Data protection issues may guide, but should not impede, such mechanisms. 13

14 ACHIEVEMENTS NEXT STEPS GREECE Advocacy at local levels (Alexandropolis, Lesbos, Piraeus, Rhodos) and central levels (Athens, Piraeus), resulting in slowly improving the communication and access to information. Coordination with the Hellenic Police Genetic Laboratory (central genetic database of unidentified bodies) for the organization of the National meeting of forensic institutions and other authorities to discuss Disaster Victim Identification. 14

15 SMALL STEPS 2014 MALTA Encouraging exchange between Malta Red Cross and Mater Dei Hospital in cases of emergencies, which has proved useful. SPAIN External advisor of ICRC, cooperation with NS to discuss possiblity of having access to information about unidentified bodies. 15

16 SMALL STEPS 2014 ITALY Short missions to Palermo to understand the current status of the cases of unidentified bodies (186) from the tragedy in October 2013 in the coast of Lampedusa and follow up with the forensic advisor of the Commissioner for Missing Persons (LABANOF, Milan) Currently the LABANOF has centralized the PM data of unidentified bodies from all different sources that were involved, with photos of personal belongings and clothes, and in few cases, of the face of the deceased, the next step is they will start looking for ways to have access to Antemortem information of those still missing from that event. 16

17 CHALLENGES IN EUROPE Standardization of procedures. Centralization of information. Access to information Improving communication and coordination between all actors involved in the forensic process. Role of the NS access to families, information Advocacy at European level (Council of Europe, etc.) 17