This week's edition of #FF is all about collaboration, which also happens to be what we are all about @DNAforAfrica. A perfect illustration of collaboration in action is this week's DNA Crusader, Jennifer Degner, a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) from Texas who helped us launch what we now call the "SAK Donation Project". I first met Jennifer during the age of online Covid Zoom meetings. We instantly connected and Jennifer and I shared stories of the challenges in our respective environments, one of which was the lack of SAK’s (sexual assault collection kits) in Africa. Following that meeting I received a midnight call from Texas (time differences are a thing!) in which Jennifer professed to throwing away hundreds of perfectly good unused items from their 'Texas 100' SAK’s - destined for landfill. How could we get these to Africa, where the need was so great, she asked me in tears? Within weeks, we had rallied a team together, and thus began the SAK Donation project: spanning three different continents, we devised a plan to stockpile the sealed, unused SAK items, get them across to East Africa, where a non profit organisation would receive them and distribute these precious items to rape crisis centres, whereafter a specialised forensic Doctor would oversee proper collection of samples and the government chemist would analyse and track the quality of these samples at their DNA lab. This would all be monitored and documented by Prof. Lisa Smith, a Criminologist at Leicester University (yes, the home of forensic DNA profiling) as part of a research study on the impact of good quality DNA samples on the justice system and survivor confidence in the process. Our first shipment of SAK items is due to land in Nairobi, Kenya at the end of this month, as we finalise and align all the processes and connect all the partners who have made this happen (which has been no mean feat and has required a lot of collaboration!). This amazing partnership, with all of its role players will also be showcased in this year's HIDS 2023 Collective, and truly is an inspiring story demonstrating how, when we work together, we are stronger together. Yours in forensics Vanessa |
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Stockpiling sealed unused SAK items in Texas |
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The SAK Donation Project is a joint effort, facilitated by DNAforAfrica, between a Texas Hospital, a sexual assault nurse examiner in the USA, international human rights NGOs, survivor advocates, rape crisis centres and government chemists in Kenya as well as Prof. Lisa Smith, a UK-based criminologist researching the impact of DNA evidence on the justice system. This project will help low resource facilities have access to sterile swabs and tamper-proof evidence bags required for the minimum standard of evidence collection from sexual offence cases, while maintaining the preservation and chain of custody of evidence. |
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It also highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to enhancing justice with DNA evidence: Criminology – understanding the role and impact of forensic evidence in the criminal justice system, how it can transform responses to crime, enhance confidence in the process, and act as a deterrent to future offending. Survivor perspective – understanding the survivor journey and the challenges they face in accessing justice. Science – ensuring that innovation is fit for purpose and implemented effectively. Law – understanding of the legal framework for DNA evidence, databases, and the role of evidence in the prosecution and defence of cases. |
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Dr Kizzie Shako (centre) and Dr Joseph Kimani (right) are from the Kenyan team in this global project and will be sharing more about it at HIDS 2023. "Not collecting and using DNA evidence as corroborating evidence is denying access to justice for survivors and increasing chances of wrongful convictions of the innocent." ~ Dr Kizzie Shako |
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The 9th Annual Human Identification Solutions Collective (HIDS 2023) is coming up in May and we've been invited to present the SAK Donation Project, as well as the DNA Hit of the Year, which highlights a human identification case in South Africa where the DNA from a sexual assault kit linked the suspect on a kidnapping and murder case, through comparison with familial DNA. What makes this significant is that South Africa, with its functional DNA database, showcases how this enabled police to identify and convict a serial offender, allowing a mother to bury her daughter - who would otherwise have faced a pauper's burial - had it not been for the DNA database. Join us at HIDS 2023 to watch this incredible story! REGISTER HERE |
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#DNA CRUSADER OF THE WEEKJennifer Degner, SANE, Texas |
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How did you get into this field? I was always destined to work in this field. My Father was a police officer for over 30 years and inspired me on this path. Forensic Nursing in particular allows me to care for others and serve my community at the same time. It is truly my honour to care for people during their most vulnerable moments. I do my best to make them feel heard and believed, so that they may take those first steps into healing from this trauma. What are your immediate goals? My vision is to see the SAK Donation Project become successful, so that many more can have access to quality evidence collection and Forensic Nursing care. It is my hope that this program, with increased donations, will grow to include more areas in Africa. I look forward to being able to advocate for Survivors and Forensic Nurses on a larger scale throughout the United States and Africa, and sharing my knowledge and experience with more organisations. "Every little bit helps and you must keep following your heart. I was moved to help after a short conversation with Vanessa and it sparked a small idea. I took that small idea to my Administration with the hope that they would support it. And because I had the courage to ask the hard questions, we now have many supplies that will be going where they are needed the most. I have faith that small ideas will grow into something much bigger!" READ MORE ABOUT JENNIFER HERE |
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SPOTLIGHT:CALL TO ACTION: NO DNA, NO RELEASE OF OFFENDERS! |
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In December last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed an important amendment to the existing DNA Act, in South Africa, making it compulsory for Sch. 8 offenders to have their DNA samples taken before release. For reasons unclear to us, the date of operation of this Act has not been set, meaning that convicted offenders are free to commit repeat crimes without being held accountable as well as losing an opportunity to link perpetrators to cold cases. Change advocate and previous winner of #MVFJ2021, Mbali Shongwe has joined us in vocalising this call to action to insist that this crucial amendment be declared operational without further delay. Please join us and use your platforms to urge the President to make this act operational. READ MBALI'S OPINION PIECE HERE |
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Together we are DNAforAfrica, and together, we are UNSTOPPABLE! |
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Follow our Journey @DNAforAFRICA | |
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