Roxana Ferllini (ed): Forensic archaeology and human rights violations

Abstract

This multi-author book gives a unique overview of the working conditions of forensic anthropologists and pathologists involved in human rights violations around the world, some times at the risk of their own lives. It is edited by a forensic anthropologist, Roxana Ferllini, who has participated in United Nations human rights missions to both Kosovo and Rwanda. The book is divided into eleven chapters; the Wrst provides an historical overview of human rights violations, while the second covers the legal framework of human right investigations, deWning the terms war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Chapters 3–6 deal with the phases of international forensic missions, including preparations and Weld work, focusing on speciWc challenges faced by forensic anthropologists and pathologists. The Wnal Wve chapters oVer a valuable insight into forensic investigations concerning human rights violations from more recent conXicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Argentina, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and include personal accounts and diary extracts. The references are generally up to date and adequate, although the 20-page chapter on general forensic pathology should include more than 8 references. In some of the more ‘reference-rich’ chapters it would have been useful to put the references at the end of each paragraph or to use the JAMA style to avoid constant interrupting of the sentences. While the multi-authorial text has the advantage of bringing disciplines together, it occasionally has the disadvantage of duplication with some topics such as occupational health and safety being addressed several times. Should I have any general criticism it would be on the quality of the Wgures. Since many of the photographs in the book appear to have been taken by the authors and non-professional photographers, many would have beneWted from professional restoration with discarding of out-of-focus images. Maps of the diVerent geographical areas should also have been possible to Wnd in unpixelated versions with more readable text. Nevertheless this book covers a very important and sadly ever-topical theme from diVerent perspectives, and will not only prove useful to forensic anthropologists and forensic pathologists, but also to anyone with an interest in forensic archaeology and human rights violations.