News and press interest – 17th August 2003

Following Inforce’s successful first mission to Iraq, we were asked by the FCO and Coalition Provisional Authority to send a second team to Baghdad. The team of four forensic scientists were there from mid-August until mid November. Their roles were strategic and comprised the following:

• Forensic Co-ordinator – to co-ordinate the activity of forensic teams sent to Iraq by various countries, ensuring best use of the international contribution.
• Forensic Monitor – to induct teams in the Inforce Protocols and to monitor their work and their employment of the protocols. This role will ensure that the standards of forensic work undertaken in Iraq will be high and consistent employing common methods and approaches thus ensuring that evidential requirements of the courts will be met.
• Forensic Capacity Building - this will examine in- and ex-country Iraqi forensic expertise and facilities available to address the legacy mass-graves challenge. This role will also examine what mentoring expertise and training is available from other countries for existing professionals, and prospective students and practitioners.