2026 HHRRC Awards to Support Global Humanitarian and Human Rights Efforts

The Humanitarian and Human Rights Center (HHRRC) utilizes AAFS expertise and other assets to promote research, training, and on-the-ground support of global humanitarian and human rights efforts. Funded by the Forensic Science Foundation, the HHRRC is proud to announce support for five projects that address humanitarian and human rights issues by employing diverse forensic approaches and/or training. Their work will take place in Paraguay, Zanzibar, the United States, Africa, and Sri Lanka to support humanitarian action, research and training. Congratulations to all!

• Jocelyn Anderson, Maija Anderson, Jacqueline Callari Robinson, Erin Pollitt.  "A Qualitative Study of Survivors and Providers." $10,000.  Forensic Nursing. (USA)
  • This project examines the lived experiences of victims of Law Enforcement Violence (LEV) and the health care providers who care for them. We aim to better understand the current practices and use of care to inform future intervention development in the field of forensic health care.
• Antonel Olckers (African Forensic Sciences Academy), Mehdi Ben Khelil, Marise Heyns, Luchenga Adam Mucheleng'anga, Adeyemi Daniel Adetimehin, Japhet Ashimirwe, Anthony Wally. "Strengthening Forensic Science Capacity in Africa." $9,800.  Multiple forensic disciplines. (Rwanda)
  • The objective of this proposal is to establish sustainable digital platforms that strengthen forensic science capacity across Africa through expertise exchange, collaboration, and professional development. These platforms will enhance institutional growth, promote partnerships, and support the development of forensic science capacity and infrastructure in Africa.
• Jacob Harris (Arizona State University), Katelyn Bolhofner, Adriana Sartorio, Rogelio Gioburú. 'They are our parents' Phase II – Implementing advanced geophysical survey and forensic archaeological methods to locate effort to locate, identify, and excavate the unmarked graves of victims of Operation Condor, Paraguay." $10,000. Forensic anthropology. (Paraguay)
  • This project will aid the Historical Memory Department, Paraguay, in its efforts to locate, excavate, and positively identify remains from clandestine mass graves associated with Operation Condor. The project will provide education, resources, and analyses in forensic archaeology and anthropology to local individuals to sustain future iterations of these efforts.
  • Isaac Onoka (University of Dodomo, Tanzania), Tiffany Fracchia. "Tracing the Unknown: Stable Isotope Analysis of Unidentified Human Remains in Zanzibar (ZH-FIP)." $10,000. Forensic chemistry. (Zanzibar)
    • The overall goal of this project is to enhance humanitarian forensic capacity in Zanzibar by applying Stable Isotope Analysis (SIA) to the identification of unidentified human remains, with a focus on recent cases of unknown individuals recovered along the Zanzibar coast.
  • Amber Plemons (California State University, Chico), Kelly Kamnikar, Selliah Pranavan. "Building a Reference Population to Aid in Forensic Identification of Sri Lanka's Missing Persons." $9,960. Anthropology, Odontology. (Sri Lanka)
    • The goal is to assist doctors and odontologists in collecting skeletal data from a donated collection for building the first Sri Lankan reference dataset used for forensic anthropological identification while simultaneously training professionals across regions and disciplines who will disseminate knowledge across the country.
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