About the IAFS
Inaugurated in 1957, the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) is the only worldwide Association to bring together academics and practicing professionals of various disciplines in forensic science. They include:
- forensic scientists, who are generally responsible for autopsies and for clinical forensic medicine i.e., examination of victims of rape and other types of violence in adults and juveniles, taking sexual and other delinquents into care, etc.
- those working in police, government or private forensic laboratories, dealing with fingerprints, biochemical grouping, drug analysis, toxicology, ballistics, traces evidence examination, accident reconstruction, etc. and
- those working in other branches of forensic science, such as forensic psychiatry, physical anthropology, medical law and bioethics, forensic odontology, etc.
The aims and objectives of IAFS are:
- to develop the forensic sciences;
- to assist forensic scientists and others to exchange scientific and technical information, and
- to organize triennial meetings
Since 1957, a total of 17 meetings have been organized in major cities around the world. Participated by over 1300 forensic scientists from 55 countries, the 2005 Meeting was held in Hong Kong.
The 18th Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences was held from 21 to 26 July, 2008 at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
