Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 27: The Centre for Ethics, in collaboration with the Forensic Anthropology Unit, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), will organise a hybrid National Symposium on ‘Humanitarian action during disasters & research framework involving the dead bodies’ on August 29 as part of World Humanitarian Day 2026 celebrations.

The symposium will bring together national and international scholars, practitioners and experts to discuss critical aspects of humanitarian response, including care of affected populations, the safety of humanitarian aid workers and the dignified and respectful management of the deceased during disasters.

The event will focus on moving beyond awareness towards practical action by developing ethical frameworks and evidence-based protocols that uphold human dignity and support affected families and humanitarian workers.

With conflicts and disasters increasing worldwide, the symposium will provide a platform to discuss lessons from recent disasters, share field experiences and develop research frameworks for the ethical management of deceased persons.

The findings of a project on ‘Capacity building for humanitarian ethics in research dealing with Cadavers in the Indian context’ will also be disseminated during the symposium. The project is supported by a grant from the humanitarian and human rights resource centre of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The symposium will examine challenges and possible solutions to ethical issues surrounding the deceased, with emphasis on preserving dignity even during crisis situations.

The keynote speakers include Dr Oran Finegan, director and founder of Forensic Action International, Dublin, and former head of forensics at the International Committee of the Red Cross; Dr Julie Roberts, associate professor of forensic anthropology at Liverpool John Moores University; Dr Uwom O Eze, consultant pathologist and clinical forensic physician at University College Hospital, Ibadan; and Dr Evi Untoro, head of the department of forensic medicine and medicolegal consultant at Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta.

Representing Yenepoya University will be Dr Vina Vaswani, director, centre for ethics and professor, department of forensic medicine and toxicology, and Dr Muhammad Nasir, associate professor, anthropology unit, department of forensic medicine and toxicology.

The symposium aims to strengthen ethical and humane approaches to disaster response while promoting dignity, compassion and evidence-based practices in the management of humanitarian crises.