engleski

Minors as Victims in 1991-1995 War in Croatia

OBJECTIVE: This paper deals with minors which were fatally inflicted by war activities in Croatia. BACKGROUND: During military operations of 1991-1995 war in Croatia, certain number of war casualties was of childhood and adolescent age. This vulnerable population suffers different damages of war, including lethal consequence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed autopsy records of all war victims processed at our Department between 1995 and 2004. Out of 2848 cases, in 1979 (70%) the identity was established. In that group of identified persons, there were 51 (4%) minors. Description of their forensic workup is presented. RESULTS: The age distribution of cases in our sample revealed the presence of 3 infants (age within 2 yrs), 2 preschool children (age 2-5 yrs), 5 children (age 6-12 yrs) and 41 adolescent (age 13-19). The bodies were mostly (42 cases) recovered from mass graves, while 9 bodies were buried individually. Majority of the bodies (46) were in considerably well preserved state in terms of skeleton integrity. Formation of adipocere was prominent in 15 cases, the others being completely or partly skeletonized. Regarding territorial distribution, bodies were predominantly exhumated in the region of Eastern Slavonia (41 cases), and the rest was exhumated in other regions of Croatia which were temporarily occupied by aggression in 1991. Most of the victims (47) parished in years 1991-1992. That time was initial and also the most extensive period of aggression. The evidence of antemortal trauma was notable in 47 cases. Forty-two individuals were fatally injured by firearms missiles. In two, death followed after explosive trauma. In the remaining 3 cases, the nature of the trauma was not specified in autopsy report. CONCLUSION: In recent decades, the proportion of civilian casualties in armed conflicts has increased dramatically. Child war victims, as subpopulation of civilian victims, are the most tragic consequences of war. Despite the many international instruments on the rights of the child, children continue to suffer extreme consequences from the wars.

identification; war victims; minors

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