Human Rights Issues Addressed by Examining the Santa Cruz Massacre and San Vicente Cemetary Mass Graves
Human Rights Issues Addressed by Examining the
Santa Cruz Massacre and the San Vicente Cemetery Mass Graves
Krystal Gibbens
Texas Tech University
April 14, 2011
Abstract
Human rights are constantly violated. This has been an issue in the past and will continue in the future. Recently, science has caught up. With advances in forensic science, especially in anthropology and archeology, graves can not only be located, but thoroughly excavated, leading to positive victim identification, family closure, and in some instances prosecution. Two specific cases include the Santa Cruz massacre and the San Vicente mass graves. Both of these cases rely on forensic methods and techniques for properly exhuming and excavating. These cases are similar, both involve violations of human rights, both occur within a cemetery, and both are investigated by the same forensic team. The San Vicente cemetery excavations are yielding positive results. Many bodies have been recovered thus far. In the case of the Santa Cruz massacre, no bodies have surfaced yet, but efforts continue. Scientists working on these cases, as well as family members of victims, continue learning new information, new techniques, and new methods everyday, and thus in turn the world is learning, learning how to cope with these types of tragedies and how to justify the victims with the brain of forensic science and the heart of human right organizations.
Introduction “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment,” states Article 5 of the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, violations of this article have been taking place recently and long before it was ever instated. Two somewhat recent cases violating human rights include: the Santa Cruz Massacre which occurred in East Timor in 1991, and the San Vicente Cemetery Mass Graves in Argentina resulting from the “Dirty
Santa Cruz Massacre and the San Vicente Cemetery Mass Graves
Krystal Gibbens
Texas Tech University
April 14, 2011
Abstract
Human rights are constantly violated. This has been an issue in the past and will continue in the future. Recently, science has caught up. With advances in forensic science, especially in anthropology and archeology, graves can not only be located, but thoroughly excavated, leading to positive victim identification, family closure, and in some instances prosecution. Two specific cases include the Santa Cruz massacre and the San Vicente mass graves. Both of these cases rely on forensic methods and techniques for properly exhuming and excavating. These cases are similar, both involve violations of human rights, both occur within a cemetery, and both are investigated by the same forensic team. The San Vicente cemetery excavations are yielding positive results. Many bodies have been recovered thus far. In the case of the Santa Cruz massacre, no bodies have surfaced yet, but efforts continue. Scientists working on these cases, as well as family members of victims, continue learning new information, new techniques, and new methods everyday, and thus in turn the world is learning, learning how to cope with these types of tragedies and how to justify the victims with the brain of forensic science and the heart of human right organizations.
Introduction “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment,” states Article 5 of the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, violations of this article have been taking place recently and long before it was ever instated. Two somewhat recent cases violating human rights include: the Santa Cruz Massacre which occurred in East Timor in 1991, and the San Vicente Cemetery Mass Graves in Argentina resulting from the “Dirty