Dear colleagues, partners and participants,

It is with immense honor and great responsibility that I address you as president of the local organizing committee for the 3th Annual International Congress of the African Society of Forensic Medicine (ASFM), which will be held in Djibouti, capital of the Republic of Djibouti, from March 2 to 5, 2026.

This congress will constitute an exceptional moment of reflection and sharing around a major and far-reaching current theme: "Forensic medicine facing the migrant phenomenon." À travers Through this theme, we wish to address the specific challenges posed by migrant phenomena in Africa and worldwide, from ethical, medical and legal perspectives.

Forensic medicine, as an indispensable tool for justice and protection of human rights, finds itself confronted with unprecedented situations related to mass migrations, transnational violence and the resulting human tragedies.

At the crossroads of these challenges, forensic medicine plays a fundamental role in identifying victims, caring for survivors and protecting migrants' rights.

In this context, we have structured the program around several sub-themes, each addressing a particular aspect of this complex phenomenon:

1. Identification of migrant remains: Humanitarian tragedies at sea or at borders pose unprecedented challenges for body identification. How can forensic medicine intervene effectively in these situations?
2. Clinical forensic examination of migrant survivors : The examination of survivors, often victims of serious violence or physical and psychological trauma, requires particular skills. How can practitioners offer appropriate care while collecting crucial forensic evidence?
3. Forensic science and humanitarian action for migrants : Humanitarian action and forensic medicine are often complementary in emergency situations. How can these two fields work together to better protect migrants and guarantee their fundamental rights?
4. Age determination of young migrants : A complex and delicate subject that raises questions about the methods used to determine the age of unaccompanied minor migrants, often in a context where documentation is missing.
5. Forensic medical certificates for asylum-seeking migrants : Medical certificates play a key role in asylum procedures. How can forensic medicine contribute to establishing evidence for asylum applications and protect migrants from the violence and persecution they flee?

This congress aims to bring together experts, researchers, practitioners and representatives of international and governmental organizations to discuss new perspectives and share best practices, forensic scientific innovations and practical solutions to address these challenges.

We are convinced that this meeting will provide an opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions and develop interdisciplinary collaborations to better respond to issues related to migrants. Helping to combat human trafficking and protect the rights of displaced persons are some of the crucial questions that will be explored during conferences, workshops and round tables.

The city of Djibouti, at the crossroads of continents and rich with a history of diversity and exchange, represents a strategic location to address this global issue. As president of the local organizing committee, I am convinced that this event will constitute an ideal framework for fruitful exchange and enhanced collaboration between forensic medicine professionals, judicial authorities, as well as humanitarian and social actors.

We warmly invite you to participate in this congress, to share your experiences, to enrich our debates and to contribute to developing practical and ethical solutions together in the face of these human and scientific challenges.

While waiting to welcome you to Djibouti, I encourage you to consult our website for more details concerning the program, registration and various collaboration opportunities.

Sincerely,