Skip to main content
Top

Open Access 03-02-2025 | Review

A critical review of medicolegal research and information asymmetries in investigating cases of extrajudicial executions and forced disappearances

Authors: Nicholas Dempsey, Reena Sarkar, Claudia Rivera, Richard Bassed

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine

Login to get access

Abstract

Medicolegal systems investigate the cause and manner of death, particularly differentiating between unintentional and intentional deaths. The examination of remains from unlawfully killed individuals is critical in exposing human rights violations. However, forensic medical investigations of these human remains can face multiple challenges, especially in contexts marked by limited resources, political influence, and sub-optimal investigative procedures. When killings are state-sanctioned or facilitated by well-resourced non-state actors, the clandestine disposal of remains can create a culture of impunity, leaving affected families and communities without recourse or resolution. This study aggregates articles in English and Spanish, examining the current state of how forensic medical research on extrajudicial executions and forced disappearances informs practice. It highlights critical gaps in the empirical literature, particularly in the reporting of the scientific findings that impact the investigation of victims of these unlawful killings. These cases' inherently non-linear and unpredictable nature, often influenced by chaotic and unstable conditions, can create disproportionate challenges for forensics practitioners. To address these gaps, this review suggests leveraging epidemiological frameworks to track data trends in these unlawful killings, supporting public health initiatives in prevention and policy. It emphasises the need for comprehensive documentation, robust databases, and adaptive forensic methodologies to navigate uncertainties and systemic limitations inherent in this complex and unpredictable domain of medicolegal death investigation.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Tidball-Binz M (2021) Report of the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: vision on the implementation of the mandate. United Nations General Assembly. Report No.: A/76/264. https://undocs.org/A/76/264 Tidball-Binz M (2021) Report of the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: vision on the implementation of the mandate. United Nations General Assembly. Report No.: A/76/264. https://​undocs.​org/​A/​76/​264
2.
go back to reference Heyns C, Casey-Maslen S, Fisher T, Knuckey S, Probert T, Tidball-Binz M (2019) Investigating potentially unlawful death under international law: The 2016 Minnesota Protocol. Int Lawyer 52:47–80 Heyns C, Casey-Maslen S, Fisher T, Knuckey S, Probert T, Tidball-Binz M (2019) Investigating potentially unlawful death under international law: The 2016 Minnesota Protocol. Int Lawyer 52:47–80
6.
go back to reference Luci M (2023) Tortured and disappeared bodies: the problem of ‘knowing.’ In: Giorgi G, Boulanger C (eds) Psychoanalytic, psychosocial, and human rights perspectives on enforced disappearance. Routledge, London, pp 170–188 Luci M (2023) Tortured and disappeared bodies: the problem of ‘knowing.’ In: Giorgi G, Boulanger C (eds) Psychoanalytic, psychosocial, and human rights perspectives on enforced disappearance. Routledge, London, pp 170–188
8.
go back to reference United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2017) The international classification of crime for statistical purposes: briefing notes on unlawful killings in conflict situations. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2017) The international classification of crime for statistical purposes: briefing notes on unlawful killings in conflict situations. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna
9.
go back to reference Blau S (2016) Missing persons investigations and identification: issues of scale, infrastructure, and political will. In: Morewitz SJ, Sturdy Colls C (eds) Handbook of Missing Persons. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 191–206CrossRef Blau S (2016) Missing persons investigations and identification: issues of scale, infrastructure, and political will. In: Morewitz SJ, Sturdy Colls C (eds) Handbook of Missing Persons. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 191–206CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Kimmerle EH (2020) Bone, trauma in. In: Smith C (ed) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 1548–1560CrossRef Kimmerle EH (2020) Bone, trauma in. In: Smith C (ed) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 1548–1560CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Combs NA (2018) Deconstructing the epistemic challenges to mass atrocity prosecutions. Washington and Lee Law Review 75:223–300 Combs NA (2018) Deconstructing the epistemic challenges to mass atrocity prosecutions. Washington and Lee Law Review 75:223–300
25.
go back to reference McKinney W (2010) Data structures for statistical computing in Python. In: Proceedings of the 9th Python in Science Conference, pp 51–6 McKinney W (2010) Data structures for statistical computing in Python. In: Proceedings of the 9th Python in Science Conference, pp 51–6
26.
go back to reference Bird S, Loper E, Klei E (2009) Natural language processing with python. O’Reilly Media Inc., Sebastopol, CA Bird S, Loper E, Klei E (2009) Natural language processing with python. O’Reilly Media Inc., Sebastopol, CA
31.
go back to reference García ACG, Buitrago E (2015) Psicosocial ECdTFyA. Muertes en conflicto: aproximación epidemiológica descriptiva a una muestra de presuntas ejecuciones extrajudiciales ocurridas en Colombia en el período 2002–2012. EQUITAS, Bogotá García ACG, Buitrago E (2015) Psicosocial ECdTFyA. Muertes en conflicto: aproximación epidemiológica descriptiva a una muestra de presuntas ejecuciones extrajudiciales ocurridas en Colombia en el período 2002–2012. EQUITAS, Bogotá
35.
go back to reference Kimmerle EH (2008) Skeletal Trauma: identification of injuries resulting from human rights abuse and armed conflict. Taylor & Francis, Boca RatonCrossRef Kimmerle EH (2008) Skeletal Trauma: identification of injuries resulting from human rights abuse and armed conflict. Taylor & Francis, Boca RatonCrossRef
47.
go back to reference Kimmerle EH, Baraybar JP (2008) An epidemiological approach to forensic investigations of violations to international humanitarian and human rights law. Forensic Investigations. CRC Press, United Kingdom, pp 1–20 Kimmerle EH, Baraybar JP (2008) An epidemiological approach to forensic investigations of violations to international humanitarian and human rights law. Forensic Investigations. CRC Press, United Kingdom, pp 1–20
52.
go back to reference Sehrawat JS, Sankhyan D (2021) Forensic anthropology in investigations of crimes against humanity: global dimensions and the mid-19th-century Ajnala (India) massacre. Forensic Science Review 33:37–66PubMed Sehrawat JS, Sankhyan D (2021) Forensic anthropology in investigations of crimes against humanity: global dimensions and the mid-19th-century Ajnala (India) massacre. Forensic Science Review 33:37–66PubMed
55.
go back to reference Szleszkowski Ł, Thannhäuser A, Szwagrzyk K, Jurek T (2015) The possibility of establishing causes of death on the basis of the exhumed remains of prisoners executed during the communist regime in Poland: The exhumations at Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw. Int J Legal Med 129:801–806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1084-zCrossRefPubMed Szleszkowski Ł, Thannhäuser A, Szwagrzyk K, Jurek T (2015) The possibility of establishing causes of death on the basis of the exhumed remains of prisoners executed during the communist regime in Poland: The exhumations at Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw. Int J Legal Med 129:801–806. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s00414-014-1084-zCrossRefPubMed
60.
go back to reference Sinamati A, Tahiri A, Ymaj B, Ismaili Z, Vyshka G, Cipi B (2011) Osteological proofs of torture and cruelty: forensic findings from a secret cemetery in Tirana, Albania. Torture: Quarterly Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture 21:197–207PubMed Sinamati A, Tahiri A, Ymaj B, Ismaili Z, Vyshka G, Cipi B (2011) Osteological proofs of torture and cruelty: forensic findings from a secret cemetery in Tirana, Albania. Torture: Quarterly Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture 21:197–207PubMed
61.
go back to reference Lucio JVP (2019) Postmortem criminal mutilation in Panama. In: Ross AH, Cunha E (eds) Dismemberments: perspectives in forensic anthropology and legal medicine. Academic Press, London, pp 63–68CrossRef Lucio JVP (2019) Postmortem criminal mutilation in Panama. In: Ross AH, Cunha E (eds) Dismemberments: perspectives in forensic anthropology and legal medicine. Academic Press, London, pp 63–68CrossRef
64.
go back to reference Rodríguez-Martín C (2006) Identification and differential diagnosis of traumatic lesions of the skeleton. In: Schmitt A, Cunha E, Pinheiro J (eds) Forensic anthropology and medicine: Complementary sciences from recovery to cause of death. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp 197–221CrossRef Rodríguez-Martín C (2006) Identification and differential diagnosis of traumatic lesions of the skeleton. In: Schmitt A, Cunha E, Pinheiro J (eds) Forensic anthropology and medicine: Complementary sciences from recovery to cause of death. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp 197–221CrossRef
73.
go back to reference Cox M, Flavel A, Hanson I (2008) The Scientific Investigation of Mass Graves: towards protocols and standard operating procedures. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Cox M, Flavel A, Hanson I (2008) The Scientific Investigation of Mass Graves: towards protocols and standard operating procedures. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
74.
go back to reference Cox M, Hunter J (2006) Forensic archaeology: advances in theory and practice. Routledge Florence, Florence Cox M, Hunter J (2006) Forensic archaeology: advances in theory and practice. Routledge Florence, Florence
89.
go back to reference Byrd JE, LeGarde CB (2014) Osteometric sorting. In: Adams BJ, Byrd JE (eds) Commingled human remains. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 167–191 Byrd JE, LeGarde CB (2014) Osteometric sorting. In: Adams BJ, Byrd JE (eds) Commingled human remains. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 167–191
Metadata
Title
A critical review of medicolegal research and information asymmetries in investigating cases of extrajudicial executions and forced disappearances
Authors
Nicholas Dempsey
Reena Sarkar
Claudia Rivera
Richard Bassed
Publication date
03-02-2025
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Journal of Legal Medicine
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03411-7