Samples2Solutions: Advancing Forensic DNA Capacity to Support Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Africa

¨At Panzi Hospital, we have witnessed firsthand the harrowing experiences of survivors who have endured unimaginable trauma at the hands of armed groups and perpetrators of sexual violence. ..Amidst our efforts to heal the wounds of the body and soul, there remains a critical missing piece in the pursuit of justice and accountability: forensic evidence. For too long, the absence of robust forensic capabilities has hindered our ability to bring perpetrators to justice and provide closure to survivors. Without the means to collect, analyze, and preserve DNA evidence, countless perpetrators continue to evade accountability, perpetuating cycles of violence and impunity.¨ Dr. Denis Mukwege, Panzi Hospital & Foundation

Dr Vanessa Lynch will present Samples2Solutions, a pioneering initiative led by DNAforAfrica in collaboration with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Vanessa will outline how the project is addressing the urgent need for forensic DNA infrastructure in regions affected by conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.

The initiative centres on establishing operational DNA profiling capacity at the Observatory Forensic Pathology Institute (OFPI) in Cape Town, where samples from survivors in the DRC will be processed as part of a research pilot. It also involves developing training protocols for forensic nurses working in high-conflict areas, creating survivor-centred procedures, and supporting Panzi Hospital in its long-term goal of establishing its own forensic DNA capacity.

By combining capacity building with ethical sample collection, consent protocols, and policy development, Vanessa will discuss how Samples2Solutions aims to demonstrate the transformative role of forensic DNA in advancing justice, empowering survivors, and setting a precedent for scalable solutions across conflict-affected regions in Africa.  Read more here.