title: Forensic DNA databases in Western Balkan region: retrospectives, perspectives, and initiatives.
abstract: The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) recommended the establishment of forensic DNA databases and specific implementation and management legislations for all EU/ENFSI members. Therefore, forensic institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia launched a wide set of activities to support these recommendations. To assess the current state, a regional expert team completed detailed screening and investigation of the existing forensic DNA data repositories and associated legislation in these countries. The scope also included relevant concurrent projects and a wide spectrum of different activities in relation to forensics DNA use. The state of forensic DNA analysis was also determined in the neighboring Slovenia and Croatia, which already have functional national DNA databases. There is a need for a 'regional supplement' to the current documentation and standards pertaining to forensic application of DNA databases, which should include regional-specific preliminary aims and recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. damir.marjanovic@ingeb.ba
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marjanović
authors.forename: Rijad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konjhodzić
authors.forename: Sara Sanela
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Butorac
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drobnic
authors.forename: Sinisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merkas
authors.forename: Gordan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauc
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Primorac
authors.forename: Simun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andjelinović
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milosavljević
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karan
authors.forename: Stojko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vidović
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stojković
authors.forename: Bojana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panić
authors.forename: Andjelka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vucetić Dragović
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kovacević
authors.forename: Zlatko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jakovski
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Asplen
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Primorac
mesh_terms: D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017523:Croatia; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia