Searching for the Disappeared: A Family-Led Forensic Approach to Human Identification

In the aftermath of the Internal Armed Conflict (1960-1996), the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG) developed a family-led, multidisciplinary model of forensic science which has helped uncover truth, restore dignity, and pursue justice in the wake of mass violence. Rooted in Guatemala’s history—where more than 40,000 people were disappeared—the FAFG combines forensic investigation, archaeology, anthropology, and genetics with the voices, memories, and guidance of families to locate, identify, and return loved ones for dignified burial. FAFG Executive Director Fredy Peccerelli will share how this process not only responds to the needs of relatives, but also strengthens accountability efforts, challenges impunity, and affirms cultural values of remembrance and resilience. By integrating science, community participation, and ceremonial practices, FAFG’s work demonstrates how forensic investigations can serve as powerful tools of healing and truth for families and societies confronting the legacy of enforced disappearance in Latin America and around the globe.