Forensic Odontology and Human Rights

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.

09/04/2026

New research from India’s Armed Forces Medical Services highlights how advanced dental imaging (CBCT) of upper front teeth - using the pulp-to-tooth volume ratio - can support age estimation, with models reporting *up to ~96% accuracy and an estimated margin of error of ~3.5–4.3 years in the studied sample (1,800 male soldiers aged 20–40).
It’s a powerful reminder that teeth can preserve critical clues—from disaster victim identification to court cases and even archaeology.

This is exactly why human rights protections and best practices matter in age assessment.
Science can strengthen justice—when paired with safeguards that prioritize dignity, fairness, and child protection.

Read the article:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/from-disaster-to-archaeology-teeth-give-away-many-secrets/articleshow/130078575.cms

From courtrooms to a disaster site, from the battlefield to the archaeological dig, the age is a frequently asked question. A study from Armed Forces .

04/03/2026

Did you know that Past-President Hemlata Pandey is a TEDx Speaker?
Enjoy (2020) 👇

Dr. Hemlata Pandey is a well-established active practitioner in the field of Forensic Odontology. She has brought justice to r**e victims through her expert ...

15/02/2026

𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 | 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗲, 𝗔𝗙𝗢𝗛𝗥 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁

Human remains are not waste. They are the physical trace of a life, deserving dignity, respect, and careful stewardship—in every context: forensic casework, cemetery management, hospital practice, disaster response, and archaeological recovery.

Treating human remains as disposable material risks more than ethical failure. It undermines:
- Human rights and cultural values, including the rights of families and communities to mourn and commemorate.
- Public trust in institutions that handle the dead on behalf of society.
- Forensic integrity, because respectful handling preserves identity, evidence, and truth.
- Professional responsibility, grounded in ethics, law, and scientific standards.

𝗔 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀:
- Clear chain of custody and traceability.
- Secure storage, proper labeling, and documented decisions.
- Minimizing commingling, loss, and unnecessary manipulation.
- Family-centered communication and culturally sensitive practice.
- Training and protocols that recognize remains as persons to be cared for, not objects to be discarded.
- How we treat the dead reflects who we are as a society—and how we treat the living.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁: 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲.
If you work in healthcare, forensics, cemeteries, academia, or emergency management: what protocols does your institution have to ensure dignity and traceability?

A former Office of the Chief Medical Examiner employee’s wrongful-termination suit said she faced retaliation and harassment after reporting the missing skull.