Yenepoya University inks pact with EAAF-Argentina

Yenepoya University inks pact with EAAF-Argentina

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 6, 2016: Yenepoya University, Mangalore and Forensic Anthropology Unit from Argentina – Equipo Argentino de Antropologia Forense (EAAF), signed a memorandum of understanding on 5th May 2016, at indoor auditorium of Yenepoya Medical College.  The EAAF is a world renowned organization dedicated to helping families of disaster victims to achieve closure, by identifying the dead.  By signing the memorandum of understanding the two organizations commit themselves to a long-term relationship of capacity building and training in forensic anthropology and related fields.

 

Addressing on the occasion  as a chief guest,  Georgina Fernandez Destefano, Minister, Chargé d’Affairs (ad interim) of the Argentina Embassy in India said that having a collaborations by signing Memorandum of Understanding with two different countries will strengthen the relationship and help to work together effectively towards the cause.  She mentioned that forensic anthropology is basically a team work between the police and the forensic anthropologists. 

Such collaborations will be more helpful in conducting seminars on judiciary, police, disasters and such other issues, she pointed.  She appreciated the initiatives taken by EAAF team and said it has a huge recognition from the whole world.

Dr.Luis Fondebrider, President, EAAF, delivered a guest lecture on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) on the occasion.  In his lecture he said the objective of EAAF is to provide forensic alternatives for the relatives of disappeared.  He mentioned about the various aspects during the disaster victim identification which includes investigation, recovery, analysis, prosecution and re-burial.  When the disaster occurs coordination between different states are very important and also international co-operation and legal context is very essential, he stressed. He said the management of the dead should not interfere with the rescue and care of survivors.  There is a myth that dead spread diseases, but in reality the survivors are potential source of epidemics, he added. 

He referred that the media is a channel of communication, it has a great role to play and good relationship with the media helps ensure respect and support for the work of first respondent.

Dr. M Vijayakumar, Vice Chancellor of Yenepoya University, in his presidential remarks said that the manmade disasters are preventable, but unfortunately in this era nobody wants to prevent anything.    He said to prevent manmade disasters need deep thinking.  He suggested its time that we need to move forward to share what we learnt.  The University should follow what is written in the MoU, he added.

Shantha Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada was the guest of honour. Dr. Ghulam Jeelani Qadiri, Principal & Dean of Yenepoya Medical College, was present on the occasion.