Guatemala
Since 1992, FAFG has responded to requests from families of victims of the Internal Armed Conflict, submitted through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, to recover the remains of their loved ones.
Through its work, FAFG supports Guatemalan society in reconstructing recent history and restoring dignity to victims and their families. This is carried out through the identification of victims and the presentation of scientific evidence to the justice system, under an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Over more than 28 years of work, FAFG has conducted 2,006 forensic anthropological investigations in Guatemala and identified 3,994 individuals, including 613 victims of enforced disappearance.
The laboratories and tools developed by FAFG also support the identification of individuals in cases related to mass disasters, ongoing human rights violations, public security, and migration, both nationally and internationally.
FAFG has collected 993 life history testimonies from families. These accounts provide a broader narrative from the perspective of survivors. Sharing these personal stories helps build resilience and contributes to a sense of identity.
Based on its extensive experience in the search for victims of enforced disappearance, FAFG has developed a standardized investigation strategy for missing persons. This approach can be applied in other countries and contexts, as it is grounded in methodologies, tools, and techniques refined over years of forensic work, including the use of the Genetic Database of Relatives of Missing Persons.
To carry out its work, FAFG operates through an integrated structure that includes the following areas: Investigation and Documentation of Victims; Forensic Archaeology; Forensic Anthropology; Forensic Genetics; and Identification Confirmation.
FAFG’s forensic genetics laboratory is accredited under COGUANOR NTG/ISO/IEC 17025:2017. It is the only laboratory in Central America with this accreditation and one of only two in Latin America. ISO 17025 accreditation ensures compliance with international scientific standards and guarantees the technical quality of analyses, facilitating collaboration and the exchange of genetic information with other laboratories.
FAFG’s trajectory, experience, and rigorous adherence to established processes and protocols have earned it international recognition.
