Dubai – United Arab Emirates, 20th January 2015: The 23rd edition of the Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM 2015) continued in its second day with the participation of 55 local and international professionals from the different fields of legal medicine and forensic science. The first two days of the congress witnessed a great number of attendees who had come to exchange their experiences and enrich their knowledge in the field of criminal evidence and criminology.
The participation of Abu Dhabi Police in the 23rd Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine comes to emphasize the importance of the congress and to enrich its scientific program. In addition, Abu Dhabi Police revealed their latest and most prominent developments in this vital sector during their participation at the IALM congress, while highlighting the prominent role of the crime scene department, which falls under the umbrella of the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police.
First Lieutenant Osman Yusuf Hammadi, from Abu Dhabi Police stated: "The crime scene dept. is considered one of the latest and key departments at the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police. It was established to close unsolved crimes and lower its rate, and to speed up the response time."
During their participation at the congress, the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police is showing several modern equipment used by Abu Dhabi Police. First Lieutenant Othman Al-Hammadi illustrated on each one of them saying: "We are using highly advanced rotating cameras capable of recording in 360 degrees rotation technique at crime scenes to re-create the complete scenario of the crime, by taking accurate measurement of the crime scene and then adding pictures, audio clips and video shots. In addition, we also have advanced laser and UV devices capable of detecting hidden traces that the human eye cannot see, such as blood, erased writings, and semen."
IALM 2015 presents a rich scientific program with a wide range of topics of current interest, presented by prominent speakers. The conference agenda covered various topics that included the humanitarian forensic action in armed conflicts and catastrophes: The Observations and Recommendations from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Victims of Human Trafficking Identification, The Role of Clinical Forensic Medicine in the Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Treatment, and many more.
Identification for the Victims of Human Trafficking:
Traffic in human beings is one of the most frequent crimes around the world. International projects for genetic identification of missing children and their families were set up by different laboratories in order to spread genetic profiles worldwide to allow rapid international fight against human trafficking. The identification for the victims of human trafficking was one of the main topics that had witnessed a great number of participants and attendees. Prof. Ludes Bertrand discussed one of the first projects that was an initiative of UGR Genetic Identification laboratory, which proposed the DNA-Prokids as a programme for genetic identification of human trafficking victims and their relatives. The program objectives are: to identify missing children, to return them to their families, and to gain more information about how such trafficking happened.
From his side, Morris V. Tidball-Binz discussed the role of humanitarian forensic action, considered as an essential element for ensuring the professional and dignified recovery, management and documentation of the dead. Forensic action plays an integral role in the clarification of the whereabouts and fate of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts and major catastrophes, as required under applicable international law.
The Role of Clinical Forensic Medicine in the Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Treatment:
International law stipulate the legal obligation of states to prevent, prohibit, criminalize and investigate alleged cases of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as the obligation to ensure that all perpetrators are forced to answer for their actions and that victims receive appropriate reparation. Duarte Nuno Vieira’s lecture addressed the several steps and procedures to be followed by a forensic medical expert in the course of fact-finding missions. The difficulties and pit-falls of this forensic medicine mission are presented based on the participation of the author in this kind of fact-finding missions, as short-term forensic consultant of the UN Highs Commission for Human Rights.
Preparing for the Unpredictable:
In conclusion, senior consultant Bhupinder Singh discussed the tsunami of 2004 which had shocked the world and caused extensive damage and misery to thousands of victims through his lecture that was titled: “The 2004 Tsunami and Other Natural Disasters in The Far East Region: Preparing For The Unpredictable”. Most of the countries in the Far-East region require an effective and integrated mechanism, which can be activated in disasters. As no country has sufficient forensic manpower or capacity to identify hundreds or thousands of victims, international cooperation is of paramount importance during disasters. Singh warns that although steps have been taken by most countries, many less-resourced countries are still lacking functional disaster management mechanisms.
The 23rd Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM 2015) is a global platform that enables the exchange of practical experiences and enriching minds in the field of forensic science and criminal investigation. The congress presents an ideal opportunity to meet with scientists, doctors, researchers, academics, students, and specialists in the field of forensic science to stay abreast of current trends and latest developments in this dynamic field.
The 23rd Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM 2015) is held regularly every three years and is considered one of the largest events specialized in Forensic Medicine, Forensic Sciences and Medical Jurisprudence. IALM 2015 is organized by Dubai Police, in cooperation with INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions a member of INDEX Holding and is supported by the Government of Dubai and the Ministry of Interior. The event is also honored by the platinum sponsorship of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Emmar Properties, and the silver sponsorship of Siemens, GE Healthcare, Gulf Bio Analytical, and NAIZAK, and Emirates Airlines as the official carrier.
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