Forensic Identification of Human Remains

The identification of human remains is important for both legal and humanitarian reasons. This document provides a brief overview for nonexperts of the scientific process by which human remains are identified. It does not set out guidelines or standard operating procedures for carrying out forensic investigations, and must not be understood as doing so. The ICRC recommends the use of standardized policies and procedures in all contexts, which should be developed by the pertinent authorities (courts, investigators, medico-legal institutes, etc.).

When a missing person is believed to be dead, two complementary lines of investigation have to be opened: tracing that person’s whereabouts and scientific identification of human remains. This brochure outlines the forensic process of identifying human remains, with an emphasis on the scientific matching of data.