Annual Report 2005 (Covering the period January to December 2004)
Title Page and Table of Contents
Mission Reports
In 2004, EAAF continued its work in Argentina to identify people who disappeared during the last military regime, moving investigations forward in the Provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero and Entre Rios. The team also continued to work on the re-examination of unscientific exhumations related to disappeared people. EAAF team members conducted training for a variety of audiences and taught courses at different universities to strengthen the forensic anthropology field in Argentina.
EAAF went to La Paz, Bolivia, at the request of the Association of Families of the Disappeared and Martyrs for the National Liberation (ASOFAM) of Bolivia after human remains were found in a construction site in an area of the city known as “El Kusillo.”
As part of the investigations of human rights violations that occurred during the period of military dictatorship in Brazil (1964-1985) led by the Special Commission on Deaths and Political Disappearances, EAAF conducted exhumations in Xambioá, state of Tocantins. The mission aimed to find the remains of combatants from the “Araguaia Guerrilla” movement.
At the request of the National Reconciliation Government of Côte D’Ivoire, the monitoring committee of the Linas-Marcoussis [Peace] Agreement, and the U.N. Secretary General, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) sent a delegation that included one EAAF member to investigate human rights violations that allegedly occurred in Abidján on March 25, 2004.
At the request of Tutela Legal, the legal office of the Archbishop of San Salvador, EAAF conducted two missions to El Salvador for the last phase of the investigation of the massacres of ‘El Mozote’ and the new investigation of ‘La Quesera.’
EAAF traveled to Georgia and Abkhazia at the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross to assess the forensic capacity in Abkhazia and Georgia, to prepare a workshop and to recommend forensic procedures for possible future exhumations.
At the request of the Washington Office for Latin America (WOLA), the Mexican NGOs Commission pro Defense and Protection of Human Rights, Justice for our Daughters, and the governmental Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women in Ciudad Juarez, EAAF conducted an assessment on the unidentified remains of women who have disappeared since 1993 in the cities of Juárez and Chihuahua, state of Chihuahua, México.
At the request of the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory (Asociación para la Recuperación de la Memoria Histórica) (ARMH), EAAF traveled to Spain to provide advice and to participate in meetings related to the on-going Spanish civil war exhumations.
At the request of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), EAAF was part of the Commission of Inquiry on Darfur. EAAF conducted a forensic assessment of human rights violations and produced recommendations for future investigations.
Right to Truth: EAAF’s work supports the fundamental rights to truth and justice of victims of human rights violations, their families and societies at large. This chapter provides an update on the judicial processes in Argentina and other countries that seek to prosecute Argentine human rights abusers.
Latin American Forensic Anthropology Association (ALAF): EAAF continued to actively support ALAF and participated in the organization of its second annual meeting in Antigua, Guatemala.
Special Section: Part II (Visual Documentation, Outreach and Academic Activities)
In association with Mambo Productions-Argentina, EAAF produced its second video, “El Ultimo Confín del Mundo/The Last Place on Earth.” EAAF also widely distributed the team’s first video, “Following Antigone. Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights Investigations.” In this section, we discuss the circulation of the EAAF traveling photo exhibition during the year. We also include other EAAF participation in academic activities, conferences, and public lectures.
The Missing Project of the International Committee of the Red Cross: EAAF continued its participation in the Missing Project, launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross to improve assistance to people unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence and to assist their families.
Twentieth Anniversary of EAAF: In October 2004, EAAF celebrated its 20th anniversary in several public events and the Mayor of Buenos Aires awarded Dr. Clyde Snow, who helped found the team in 1984, honored citizen of the city.
New Tactics for Human Rights: Center for Victims of Torture: EAAF participated in a global conference organized by the Center for Victims of Torture, a US-based NGO, to share best practices and strategies for human rights work.
