Our story
For more than 25 years assisting families in the search and identification
of their Disappeared loved ones. This is our story.
The Internal Armed Conflict lasts 36 years in Guatemala. The Commission for Historical Clarification reported approximately 200,000 victims, of which 40,000 people were victims of enforced disappearances. They remain Disappeared to this day.
A member of the Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala participates in the exhumations in Kurdistan, alongside Dr. Clyde Snow.
The Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala publishes the book Las Masacres en Rabinal (The Rabinal Massacres).
The Commission for Historical Clarification requests FAFG to commence the first four forensic investigations in Panzos, Alta Verapaz; Acul, Nebaj, Quiche; Chel, Chajul, Quiché; and Belén, Santo Domingo, Suchitepequez.
First project with the Embassy of the Netherlands begins with the exhumation of Chupol, Chichicastenango, Quiché.
FAFG collaborates with the UNDP to present a holistic approach that includes psychosocial and legal support for families.
Exhumation begins at the San Juan Comalapa former military base, recovering 220 victims.
FAFG participates in forensic investigations led by the Office on Missing Persons and Forensics in Kosovo.
The recovery of landslide victims in Panabaj, Santiago, Atitlán. FAFG recovered 106 bodies of which 102 were identified and buried by their families.
FAFG takes the first reference genetic sample for the FAFG’s National Genetic Bank from the family of the child, Marco Antonio Molina Thiessen.
FAFG’s Forensic Genetics laboratory is accredited under ISO 17025:2005.
FAFG participates in another trial of the Massacre of Las Dos Erres, La Libertad, Petén.
FAFG forensic experts testify in the first national judicial process against a former head of state on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
FAFG participates in the Massacre Plan de Sánchez trial.
FAFG became a partner of the Global Initiative for Justice, Truth, and Reconciliation (GIJTR) Consortium.
First recordings of Life Histories (Historias de Vida) of survivors of the Internal Armed Conflict, initiating FAFG’s Life Histories Archive in collaboration with USC Shoah Foundation.
Fifteen experts from the FAFG participate in the Genocidio Ixil trial.
Two people from FAFG participate as experts in the trial of the Aldea Sepur Zarco Military Detachment.
Workshop in Mexico to share our experience in the search for Disappeared persons in Guatemala.
FAFG initiates partnership to share knowledge and expertise with National Search Commissions in El Salvador and Colombia. 2018. Workshop on strengthening capacities to address the rights of the families of victims of enforced disappearances in Colombia.
FAFG participates in the trials of Myrna Mack and Molina Thiessen.
Recovery work begins with the victims of the Fuego Volcano eruption in San Miguel Los Lotes.
Renowned US Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Clyde Snow (1928-2014) gathers a team of forensic professionals to investigate the cases of the Internal Armed Conflict, establishing the Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala.
The Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala participates with Physicians for Human Rights in forensic investigations in Honduras.
The Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG) is established.
FAFG participates in the first forensic investigation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Project with the Embassy of the Netherlands and USAID is launched, expanding the FAFG team by contracting 24 new members.
FAFG launches the project, Officialization of the Manual of Procedures for Forensic Anthropological Investigations in Guatemala, in collaboration with the Public Ministry for exhumations within the country and to implement the new criminal process.
The forensic investigation at the former military base in Rabinal, Alta Verapaz begins. The collection of XX files in the La Verbena Cemetery, initiates the search strategy for Disappeared persons.
Recovery of the bodies of the people who died in the Cuá, Tacaná, San Marcos landslide.
FAFG’s Forensic Genetics laboratory opens it’s doors.
Searching for Disappeared Persons Manual is created.
The exhumation begins at the La Verbena Cemetery, located in Guatemala City. This project was developed under the hypothesis that many of the missing persons in the capital had been buried as XX in the cemetery.
FAFG identifies Sergio Saúl Linares and Amancio Samuel Villatoro, who appear in the Diario Militar. Their bodies were exhumed from grave IX found in the old military installation located in San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango. Both families give their reference genetic samples at the La Verbena Cemetery in the hope of finding their bodies there.
FAFG begins exhumations at the Regional Peacekeeping Operations Training Command (CREOMPAZ), in Cobán, Alta Verapaz. A minimum of 565 individuals were recovered in 85 graves.
The exhumation of La Verbena Cemetery is completed, recovering at least 15,557 individuals from 5 skeletal ossuaries (or bone wells).
The FAFG participates in the Violadores de la Roosevelt trial.
The revision of the Minnesota Protocol is carried out.
FAFG collaborates in the development of the documentary, Finding Oscar.
The forensic investigation begins in the old military base in Xolusinay, San Juan Cotzal, Quiché.
Forensic Science in Transitional Justice and the Search for the Disappeared: Exchange of Experiences and Training Program in Sri Lanka.
FAFG and CONAVIGUA inaugurate the San Juan Comalapa Memorial for Victims of Enforced Disappearance on June 21st, burying 172 unidentified victims at the memorial for their safekeeping while FAFG continues all efforts to uncover and confirm their identification.
The forensic investigation begins at the military base in Caserío El Infierno, Aldea La Pólvora, Melchor de Mencos, Petén.
Launching the Forensic Academy in Guatemala and Rwanda, participants from different parts of the world are invited to share and exchange experiences.
The Internal Armed Conflict lasts 36 years in Guatemala. The Commission for Historical Clarification reported approximately 200,000 victims, of which 40,000 people were victims of enforced disappearances. They remain Disappeared to this day.
Renowned US Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Clyde Snow (1928-2014) gathers a team of forensic professionals to investigate the cases of the Internal Armed Conflict, establishing the Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala.
A member of the Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala participates in the exhumations in Kurdistan, alongside Dr. Clyde Snow.
The Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala participates with Physicians for Human Rights in forensic investigations in Honduras.
The Forensic Anthropology Team of Guatemala publishes the book Las Masacres en Rabinal (The Rabinal Massacres).
The Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG) is established.
The Commission for Historical Clarification requests FAFG to commence the first four forensic investigations in Panzos, Alta Verapaz; Acul, Nebaj, Quiche; Chel, Chajul, Quiché; and Belén, Santo Domingo, Suchitepequez.
FAFG participates in the first forensic investigation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
First project with the Embassy of the Netherlands begins with the exhumation of Chupol, Chichicastenango, Quiché.
Project with the Embassy of the Netherlands and USAID is launched, expanding the FAFG team by contracting 24 new members.
FAFG collaborates with the UNDP to present a holistic approach that includes psychosocial and legal support for families.
FAFG launches the project, Officialization of the Manual of Procedures for Forensic Anthropological Investigations in Guatemala, in collaboration with the Public Ministry for exhumations within the country and to implement the new criminal process.
Exhumation begins at the San Juan Comalapa former military base, recovering 220 victims.
The forensic investigation at the former military base in Rabinal, Alta Verapaz begins. The collection of XX files in the La Verbena Cemetery, initiates the search strategy for Disappeared persons.
FAFG participates in forensic investigations led by the Office on Missing Persons and Forensics in Kosovo.
Recovery of the bodies of the people who died in the Cuá, Tacaná, San Marcos landslide.
The recovery of landslide victims in Panabaj, Santiago, Atitlán. FAFG recovered 106 bodies of which 102 were identified and buried by their families.
FAFG’s Forensic Genetics laboratory opens it’s doors.
FAFG takes the first reference genetic sample for the FAFG’s National Genetic Bank from the family of the child, Marco Antonio Molina Thiessen.
Searching for Disappeared Persons Manual is created.
FAFG’s Forensic Genetics laboratory is accredited under ISO 17025:2005.
The exhumation begins at the La Verbena Cemetery, located in Guatemala City. This project was developed under the hypothesis that many of the missing persons in the capital had been buried as XX in the cemetery.
FAFG participates in another trial of the Massacre of Las Dos Erres, La Libertad, Petén.
FAFG identifies Sergio Saúl Linares and Amancio Samuel Villatoro, who appear in the Diario Militar. Their bodies were exhumed from grave IX found in the old military installation located in San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango. Both families give their reference genetic samples at the La Verbena Cemetery in the hope of finding their bodies there.
FAFG forensic experts testify in the first national judicial process against a former head of state on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
FAFG begins exhumations at the Regional Peacekeeping Operations Training Command (CREOMPAZ), in Cobán, Alta Verapaz. A minimum of 565 individuals were recovered in 85 graves.
FAFG participates in the Massacre Plan de Sánchez trial.
The exhumation of La Verbena Cemetery is completed, recovering at least 15,557 individuals from 5 skeletal ossuaries (or bone wells).
FAFG became a partner of the Global Initiative for Justice, Truth, and Reconciliation (GIJTR) Consortium.
The FAFG participates in the Violadores de la Roosevelt trial.
First recordings of Life Histories (Historias de Vida) of survivors of the Internal Armed Conflict, initiating FAFG’s Life Histories Archive in collaboration with USC Shoah Foundation.
The revision of the Minnesota Protocol is carried out.
Fifteen experts from the FAFG participate in the Genocidio Ixil trial.
FAFG collaborates in the development of the documentary, Finding Oscar.
Two people from FAFG participate as experts in the trial of the Aldea Sepur Zarco Military Detachment.
The forensic investigation begins in the old military base in Xolusinay, San Juan Cotzal, Quiché.
Workshop in Mexico to share our experience in the search for Disappeared persons in Guatemala.
Forensic Science in Transitional Justice and the Search for the Disappeared: Exchange of Experiences and Training Program in Sri Lanka.
FAFG initiates partnership to share knowledge and expertise with National Search Commissions in El Salvador and Colombia. 2018. Workshop on strengthening capacities to address the rights of the families of victims of enforced disappearances in Colombia.
FAFG and CONAVIGUA inaugurate the San Juan Comalapa Memorial for Victims of Enforced Disappearance on June 21st, burying 172 unidentified victims at the memorial for their safekeeping while FAFG continues all efforts to uncover and confirm their identification.
FAFG participates in the trials of Myrna Mack and Molina Thiessen.
The forensic investigation begins at the military base in Caserío El Infierno, Aldea La Pólvora, Melchor de Mencos, Petén.
Recovery work begins with the victims of the Fuego Volcano eruption in San Miguel Los Lotes.
Launching the Forensic Academy in Guatemala and Rwanda, participants from different parts of the world are invited to share and exchange experiences.