As we commemorate World Humanitarian Day, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine reflects on our ongoing commitment to advancing forensic medical and scientific capacity on a global scale.
For decades the VIFM has actively engaged with international forensic communities and practitioners, particularly in regions where resources are limited and specialised training is scarce. Forensic medicine and science underpin effective justice and public health systems.
Building Capacity in Resource-Poor Nations
The VIFM enhances forensic medical and scientific capabilities in resource-poor nations, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, through the provision of training and consultancy work. In some nations the training of specialist forensic doctors is limited, which hampers justice and public health outcomes. The VIFM makes a significant contribution by sharing knowledge, training professionals, and collaborating with international medico-legal agencies to build effective forensic medical infrastructure.
Global Collaboration and Impact
The VIFM’s expertise is frequently commissioned by leading international organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the Australian Government. These collaborations are vital in areas such as death investigation, managing mass casualties, disaster victim identification (DVI), and the investigation of interpersonal violence, and human rights violations, including sexual violence. The VIFM’s professional staff gain experience and expertise from these collaborations which in turn improves our service delivery and ability to respond to extreme events.
In 2022 and 2023, the VIFM hosted training placements and visits by forensic practitioners from Bhutan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Chile, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. These exchanges foster international collaboration, the exchange of knowledge and the promotion of best practice.
Strengthening Forensic Capacity in the Asia Pacific
The VIFM’s involvement with the Asia Pacific Medico-Legal Agencies (APMLA) network, which includes 47 forensic medical institutions from 23 nations, is an example of the Institute’s commitment to regional forensic medical capacity development. We are assisting with program planning for the August 2024 APMLA Annual Meeting, which will be held in conjunction with the Asian Forensic Sciences Network (AFSN) Annual Meeting in Bangkok. This upcoming conference has attracted over 700 registrations, reflecting the growing interest and importance of forensic medicine and science in the region.
Humanitarian Initiatives with the ICRC
The VIFM has undertook a range of initiatives for the ICRC in the 2022-2023 financial year:
- Lebanon: In September 2022, the VIFM provided a three-day intensive training on forensic anthropology, focusing on search techniques for locating human remains, documentation, recovery, and identification principles.
- Iraq: In October 2022, the VIFM hosted a five-day Forensic Service Quality Management Training Program in Melbourne for a visiting Iraqi delegation. The program, which was supported by an Iraq-based ICRC Forensic Advisor. aimed to improve the quality management of forensic services in Iraq.
- Ukraine: In January 2023, the VIFM conducted a desktop analysis of the medico-legal system framework in Ukraine, providing recommendations for the ICRC Working Group. This analysis was crucial in identifying areas for improvement in Ukraine’s medico-legal infrastructure.
- Armenia: In April 2023, the VIFM provided training on the dignified management of the dead in emergencies. The training, delivered to Armenian authorities, focused on mass casualty management, identification of the deceased, and effective communication with bereaved families, as part of the National Emergency Response Plan.
- Vietnam: In June 2023, the VIFM assisted the ICRC Regional Forensic Manager for Asia and the Pacific in developing a workshop on managing the missing and unidentified deceased. This workshop, held in Hanoi, emphasised the importance of forensic expertise in humanitarian efforts.
As we honour the spirit of World Humanitarian Day, the VIFM continues to deploy forensic medical and scientific expertise through training, collaboration, and research, in regions facing significant challenges. Our global contributions to forensic medicine and science strengthen local capacities and support for support justice, and human rights. The VIFM continues to make a positive impact internationally in advancing the field of forensic medicine for the betterment of humanity.