Towards a responsible forensic DNA database policy in Portugal and Europe: re-thinking ethics and human rights through the lens of civic genomic pragmatism.
The number and dimension of forensic DNA used to prevent and combat crime and global terrorism has expanded considerably in a rapid and far-reaching way in Europe. However, several obstacles are being posed due human rights concerns and specific national features of legislation, laboratory practices, orientations within justice systems and police actions.
The main goal of this project is to question and re-examine the traditional ethical and human rights issues posed by forensic DNA databases by using an innovative conceptualisation provisionally entitled civic genomic pragmatism. This concept intents to provide greater sensitivity for capturing the practical textualities (pragmatism) through which individuals – both professionals and non-professionals – (as civic agents) work through their biopolitical relationships (genomic) with institutions and communities. On the basis of qualitative methods it is expected to understand the ways human rights are explicitly recognised as threatened or protected, not only as they are formally constructed by the courts, but also as tacitly understood and worked out by scientists, lawyers, judges, public prosecutors, policymakers and citizens. The main output will be to contribute for constructing a responsible forensic DNA database policy in Portugal and Europe.