Political killings and disappearances: medicolegal aspects

In many countries around the world, real or suspected political opponents of the government disappear following abduction or are killed by agents acting for the government or with its knowledge and tacit approval. The same fate is inflicted on people who are seen as socially undesirable - for example, petty criminals, street children or homeless people. Armed opposition groups in some countries are also now using disappearance and targeted killings as a means of disposing of opponents. These are major forms of human rights abuse. This report provides a short overview of the medicolegal aspects in investigating the abuses, tracing disappeared children, as well as the after-effects of abuses on survivors and families.