Investigation of clandestine graves resulting from human rights abuses

The role of the forensic scientist in the investigation of clandestine graves resulting from human rights abuses is discussed. Individuals buried in such circumstances have perished following abuse by persons in authority or by other political factions. Such persons have been classed by the abusers as dissidents or political opponents, or have been killed simply for belonging to a particular racial or religious grouping. Guidelines for investigation and the general approach by the scientist are suggested and examples of exhumations are cited in which the author has had personal involvement. These include exhumations carried out in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Chile.