Introduction of Gawharshad Forensic Clinic (GFC)

1. Concept

 Forensic science: Using and applying forensic science in tacking legal and criminal cases.  Forensic clinic: Standard role play of police, prosecutors, judges, defense lawyers, experts and mute court.

2. Goal

 Institutionalizing scientific-o-legal culture in higher educational centers.  Promoting forensic science in criminal justice system.

3. Methodology

 Lectures with power point presentation.  Introduction with materials and equipment in forensic science.  Case presentation and crime scene documentation.  Report writing and filling police registration files.  Writing accusation letter and filling files related to prosecutors.  Preparing a proper defense and getting familiar with contracts of defense lawyers and legal aid providers with clients.  Mute court and role play of police, prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges and experts.

4. Organizers

 Gawharshad Institute of Higher Education (GIOHE).  Afghanistan Forensic Science Organization (AFSO).

5. Technical Partners

 University of Lincoln (UOL)  Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)

 Introduction of Gawharshad Forensic Clinic (GFC) 

7- Materials

 Laptop  Internet  Projector  Magnifier  Professional Camera  Drawers for measurement  Paper files for attaching documents.  Small and large measurement meters.  GPS machine to determine fixed points  Face mask for protection and prevention.  Compass for determination of north wing  Photo markers for marking evidence of crime scene  Pen and pencil for taking notes and sketches drawing.  Gloves for protection of crime scene and investigator.  Wooden pins for photo marker stability in low-lying area  Plastic gun with bullets for ballistic observation of the crime scene.  Metal pins for crime scene determination and locking crime scene tape  Crime scene tape for locking the crime scene for the irresponsible crossings.  Special uniforms of police, prosecutors, judges, defense lawyers and experts.  Plastic and paper bags alongside metal and glass dishes for collecting evidence.  Special box for crime scene investigation which contains scissors, forceps, knife…

Introduction of Gawharshad Forensic Clinic (GFC)

8. Structure of the Forensic clinic

Introduction of forensic evidence and using science and technology in criminal Trials. 1

 Forensic Arts  Forensic Medicine  Forensic Chemistry  Forensic Computer science  Forensic Photography  Forensic Engineering  Forensic ballistics  Forensic Geology  Forensic Mathematics  Forensic GPS  Forensic Botany  Forensic dentistry  Forensic pathology  Forensic Anthropology  Forensic Archaeology  Forensic Anatomy  Forensic Finger prints  Afghanistan Constitution  Afghan Penal Code  Afghan Criminal Procedure  Police, prosecutor and defense lawyers legislations  Writing reports on presumptive cases

2 Filling forms and preparation for the role play in mute court

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 Filling forms related to police investigation of crime scene.  Filling forms related to prosecutor’s investigation of the case.  Filling forms related to defense lawyers and legal aid providers.  Provision of official letters and referring it to forensic medicine and criminal technic.  Preparing accusation form in accordance to Afghan law.  Preparing a proper defense in accordance to Afghan and international law.

3 Conducting mute courts and role play by law students

.2  Coordinating, arranging and setting conference hall for mute court session.  Determining exact spots for police, prosecutor, defense lawyer, expert and judiciary board in the mute court.  Specifying specific place for participants and viewers of the court sessions.  Presenting police, prosecutors, defense lawyers, judiciary board and experts by students in their respective uniforms.  Conducting court’s session in presence of judiciary board, prosecutors, defense lawyers and participants.  Case presentation by prosecutors, evidence presentation and testimony of suspects.  Defense’s claim by defense lawyers and their objections in regards with prosecutors claims and evidence.  Provision of independent expert’s opinion by forensic experts and criminal technic.  Defense lawyer’s objection on expert’s opinion and challenging them.  Case’s hearing by judiciary board.

Afghanistan Forensic Science Organization

Afghanistan Forensic Science Organization (AFSO) is an independent, non-governmental and non- profit organization founded in 2011 to promote the use of forensic science in Afghanistan. AFSO is a multidisciplinary team of 23 professionals including police, forensic medical doctors, prosecutors, archaeologists and human rights investigators, trained and mentored since its inception by Nobel Peace Laureate Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). AFSO has been working on five major themes since its establishment:

 Mass graves identification, registration, documentation and protection in Afghanistan  Scientific Partnership between AFSO and Gawharshad Institute of Higher education which is establishing Gawharshad Forensic Clinic (GFC).  Trial monitoring and evaluation of forensic evidence in Kabul primary courts  Detention Working Group establishment and drafting anti torture law  Banning virginity testing in Afghanistan and establishing Hymen working group

Highlights of AFSO’s work include the documentation and registration of Afghanistan’s many mass graves in several provinces of Afghanistan, developing and implementing Afghanistan’s first (and only) forensic science university curriculum, implementing Afghanistan’s first Istanbul Protocol trainings on the medical documentation of torture and conducting training for human rights defenders, forensic staff, member of Detention Working Group. Furthermore, AFSO professionally and technically worked on drafting preventing torture law. AFSO extensively worked on trial monitoring, providing independent expert opinion, training and guidance of victims on filling and submissions of representation forms (VRF), and advocating for an end to hymen testing in so-called moral crimes cases. Hymen testing is a discriminatory and degrading practice that not only lacks any scientific or medical basis, but also – when conducted in circumstances of duress – amounts to torture. AFSO is the only dedicated forensic science organization in Afghanistan. AFSO regularly conducts awareness raising workshops in Kabul and in the provinces with a range of stakeholders including police, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, the AIHRC, civil society activists and universities with a focus on forensic anthropology (mass grave documentation) including identification, registration, protection and exhumation. It’s also working on documentation of torture and the lack of science behind hymen and anal testing. As this testing is routinely practiced in Forensic Medicine Directorate of Afghanistan (FMD). Furthermore, AFSO’s international forensic experts had monitored and evaluated Forensic Medicine Directorate of Afghanistan (FMD) and prepared a report highlighting gaps and flaws with forensic medicine and subsequently presented suggestions on how to fill in the gaps and update the system within.