Interpol experts hear of AFR role in itentifying the victims of 7/7
June 2, 2007
The Interpol Standing Committee on Disaster Victim Identification, which works to enhance the effectiveness of international efforts to identify casualties of large-scale disasters, concluded its three-day meeting at the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, France, on 25 May.
More than 120 participants from 36 member countries discussed methods, case studies and best practices following natural and manmade disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed coastal areas in the southern United States, plane crashes in Angola, Argentina, Greece, Indonesia and Venezuela, and the London transport bombings.
They also heard details of Interpol’s assistance to investigators in Barbados with identification efforts for 11 apparent victims of a human-trafficking operation, who were found on a boat which had departed from Africa and drifted across the Atlantic Ocean to the island’s east coast. Mark Viner, AFR Secretary and Liaison Officer attended the meeting as an invited delegate of the Inforce Foundation and gave a presentation on the Role of Radiography in the London Bombings.
The Standing Committee is comprised of representatives from the law enforcement, forensic and medical communities. It helped formulate Interpol’s Disaster Victim Identification Guide, which includes globally recognised standards to help foster the compatibility of procedures across international boundaries.
The need for common procedures and enhanced co-operation in the international community took on greater importance following the Asian tsunami in December 2004, in which hundreds of thousands of residents and foreign tourists died.
Specialist officers from Interpol and 31 member countries assisted Thai and Sri Lankan authorities with the victim identification process, collecting DNA samples, conducting analysis, logging data and helping with the repatriation of remains.
Other capacity-building tools the Standing Committee provides to Interpol member countries include guidelines and training on victim and family support, occupational health, communications, logistics and information-sharing.
Read more on the interpol website
