We, the IAFMHS student board, commit to actively engaging in the process of anti-racist allyship and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Our hearts are heavy following the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others who have died as a result of police violence specifically and race-related violence generally. Their deaths are a direct result of systemic racism and oppression ingrained in the framework of U.S. policing systems. Yet, systemic racism and oppression extend beyond this context and pervade every system we exist within, both personally and professionally. Further, while the context and history may look different across countries, racism, both systemic and individual, is a persistent, global human rights concern. IAFMHS is an international organization built on a dedication to improve forensic services, improve the lives of forensic patients, and improve the safety of our society. These goals cannot be attained without a commitment to taking anti-racist actions and lifting up the voices of Black people, and BIPOC (i.e., Black, Indigenous and People of Color) generally. We must support those who have historically been marginalized, and continue to be marginalized, in our present society. We acknowledge the privileges we hold and are committed to exploring our positionalities further - as individuals and as a student board.

We specifically call on our White and non-Black student members around the world to join us on the conscious, active and continuous journey of anti-racist allyship that empowers us to reflect upon the privileges and biases we benefit from in the white supremacist systems we occupy. We are responsible for listening to the voices and experiences of those who face discrimination and inequality, for intentionally taking on the emotional labor of unlearning conscious and unconscious racism, and for advocating for lasting change in ourselves, our profession and our environments. It is only then that we can move towards a society in which Black Lives Matter AND are valued in their totality.

Below, we have included a few resources that we have found helpful in educating ourselves. Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive. We will be sharing more resources via social media and on our website and are working diligently on a long-term plan to actively support the BLM movement.

We invite our student members to get engaged by sharing their ideas, additional resources, and thoughts on how the IAFMHS student board can help address systemic racism and advance equity and justice. If you are interested in becoming involved in our action plans and future initiatives, please email us at students@iafmhs.org.

The IAFMHS Student Board

The Student Board is currently drafting an action plan to ensure that we transform our commitments in the statement into long-term actions and promote the necessary changes to advance equity and justice for all racial and ethnic groups. We will share our action plan shortly after our next board meeting.