Forensic Odontology and Human Rights

14/08/2026

As AFOHR – Forensic Odontology and Human Rights, we are pleased to celebrate the continued progress of forensic odontology and the international value of the IOFOS Triennial Meeting.
🔗 https://iofos-2026-triennial-meeting.eu/?fbclid=IwZnRzaATr07RwZG9mAWZkaWQWUMf0LzHASNqxJGPHlmyeeB7ZLmHfQmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6c4nwrbmotOFnzndG-a_4-9SF44aZQKqm6Hdadl-hpeeVRYGemIgBnEKH4TA_aem_0I6Hfa1aOGRSSr0Afz-trQ

Every three years, this event offers an essential opportunity for scientific exchange, professional networking, and dialogue among experts, researchers, and students from around the world.

We are proud that around 10% of our members will be present in Lisbon, contributing with scientific presentations and new perspectives in the field of age estimation, always with a strong focus on the respect and protection of human rights.

For AFOHR, forensic odontology is not only a scientific discipline. It is also a tool for identity, dignity, justice, and the protection of vulnerable people.

We look forward to sharing knowledge, building connections, and contributing to an international discussion that places science and human rights at the same table.

14/08/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗙𝗢𝗛𝗥 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽.

We are pleased to share that 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗿 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗱, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, YMC, won the 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 at the 𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗔𝗙𝗦 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Representing India among 𝟭,𝟳𝟬𝟬+ presentations from 𝟵𝟬+ countries, Dr. Nasir became the 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 to receive this distinction in this category.

The award recognizes his pioneering work in establishing the 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 — 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧, India’s first dedicated facility for postmortem interval research.

Congratulations to 𝗗𝗿. 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 on this remarkable achievement.

𝗔𝗙𝗢𝗛𝗥 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗿. 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀.

06/06/2026

27/05/2026

AFOHR brought Humanitarian Forensic Odontology (HFO) to the 24th Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences.

Through a collaborative expertise workshop led by Emilio Nuzzolese, Akiko Kumagai, Shirley Lewis, and Ivana Cukovic-Bagic, we shared practical perspectives and global experiences on the humanitarian application of forensic odontology.

The session focused on innovation, awareness, and humanity — highlighting our role within the administration of justice and fairness. We emphasized the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, to strengthen identification practices, and to recognize that acknowledging errors is not weakness, but a driver of change, improvement, and professional exchange.

The discussion was enriched by the active participation of a lawyer and two pathologists, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue in advancing ethical and effective forensic practice.

Humanitarian forensic odontology is not only about technical expertise — it is about dignity, accountability, and service.

25/05/2026

𝐀𝐅𝐎𝐇𝐑 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐀𝐅𝐒𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐚, 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚

AFOHR Board Members are attending and supporting the Workshop Humanitarian Forensic Odontology to Spot Human Rights Violations, focused on strengthening skills to recognize forensic indicators that may help document human rights abuses.

We’re honored to be alongside Prof. Akiko Kumagai, Dr. Shirley Lewis, and Prof. Emilio Nuzzolese for lectures and professional exchange—and to connect with colleagues during today’s welcome reception.

𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝟐 𝐩𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝟓 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐅𝐎𝐇𝐑.

25/05/2026

ABOUT AFOHR

The Association of Forensic Odontology and Human Rights (AFOHR) is an international, not-for-profit association dedicated to advancing humanitarian forensic odontology and promoting human dignity and human rights through scientific practice.

Created in 2015 by Dr. Emilio Nuzzolese and formally established as a non-profit association in 2019, AFOHR was founded to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge among specialists working at the intersection of dentistry, forensic sciences, legal medicine, and human rights. AFOHR supports the development and dissemination of best practices in human identification and age estimation,
fostering collaboration between academics and practitioners to strengthen quality, consistency, and ethical standards in forensic casework—grounded in respect for human dignity and human rights.

23/04/2026

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗱𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
We are honored to celebrate the presentation of the “John Clement Grant” for Postgraduate Training in Forensic Odontology, a prestigious award dedicated to advancing education, research, and international collaboration in forensic dental science.

Who was John Clement?

Prof. John Clement was an internationally respected forensic odontologist and academic whose work significantly advanced the field of human identification. He was deeply committed to education, scientific rigor, and the humanitarian application of forensic odontology—particularly in disaster victim identification (DVI) and complex identification cases.

The “John Clement Grant” was established to continue his legacy by supporting professionals seeking advanced postgraduate training in forensic odontology and strengthening global standards in human identification.

2026 Awardee
Dr. Myroslav Goncharuk-Khomyn (Ukraine).
Associate Professor, PhD
Uzhhorod National University

Dr. Goncharuk-Khomyn is a dentist, forensic odontologist, and researcher who has dedicated his career to advancing forensic identification in Ukraine.

The grant was given by Board Member Dr. Mario Torreggianti, and Past-President Prof. Emilio Nuzzolese.

17/04/2026

SOFIA, *26 May 2026*. Register now for this unique workshop at the IAFS International Conference.
👇👇👇
https://iafs2026.com/

12/04/2026

🎓 We are pleased to announce the recipient of the John Clement Grant for Postgraduate Training in Forensic Odontology: Dr Myroslav Goncharuk-Khomyn (Ukraine).

Dr Goncharuk-Khomyn is a researcher, dentist, forensic dentist, and Associate Professor at Uzhhorod National University, whose work reflects a deep and sustained commitment to the development of forensic odontology in Ukraine.

In the context of the ongoing war, where forensic identification remains a critical humanitarian and professional challenge, his application stood out for its clear purpose, strong academic and practical background, and commitment to strengthening forensic odontology capacity in his country. The Committee was particularly impressed by his intention to apply and disseminate the knowledge gained through postgraduate training both in practice and in education.

We warmly congratulate Dr Goncharuk-Khomyn on this award and wish him every success in the programme and in his ongoing contribution to forensic odontology, training, and identification work in Ukraine.

09/04/2026

Age estimation can be a safeguarding tool—but only if it’s used to protect rights, not restrict them.
This matters most in borderline cases where “juvenility” decides access to protection, freedom, and essential services.

What rights-respecting practice looks like:
- Protect, don’t punish: Use age estimation to support safeguarding—not to justify detention, exclusion, or denial of services.
- Be transparent about uncertainty: A 3–4 year error range can be decisive around legal thresholds—so it must be clearly communicated.
- Least intrusive first: Any imaging should be justified, proportionate, and based on informed consent where possible.
- No single-test decisions: Use a multidisciplinary, holistic assessment and ensure independent review/appeal pathways.
- Validate across diverse populations: Methods must be tested on diverse datasets before broad adoption—limitations should be stated upfront.

If a method carries uncertainty, the system must carry extra safeguards extra punishment.