Human Rights and Identification of Human Skeletal Remains by Digital Skull-Photographic Comparisons in Uruguay

Abstract

Scientists make unique contributions in human rights cases by applying scientific and forensic techniques to criminal investigations. In human rights cases, evidence is often based solely on the oral testimonies of victims or witnesses. There is little doubt concerning the importance of oral testimonies. However, spoken evidence is much more effective when it is corroborated by physical evidence. In Latin America countries, experts such as forensic anthropologists, pathologists, and archaeologists contribute to human rights cases by aiding in death investigations and in the identification of victims remains. Forensic anthropologists are often called on for cases in which trauma analysis and identification of human skeletal remains is necessary. After 1984, Argentina, Chile and Guatemala have developed national forensic anthropology teams but they are not part of their judicial system as they are not governmental organizations. But, since 1992 in Uruguay, there is an official Forensic Anthropology Laboratory integrated to the judicial system directed by the author. Since 1992 at the present, this Laboratory has made more than 1700 official forensic anthropology report of cases and identified more than 200 people with ages ranging from 5 to 90 years old at time of death using traditional forensic anthropology techniques.