Clyde Snow Social Justice Award Public Lecture
The Search for Disappeared Persons in Guatemala:
Dr. Clyde Snow’s Legacy Lives On
October 19th , 2023 | 6 p.m.
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Robert S. Kerr Auditorium
The Clyde Snow Social Justice Award
The 2023 Clyde Snow Memorial Lecture will be given by Fredy Peccerelli
Fredy Peccerelli
Fredy Peccerelli is an internationally renowned and recognized Forensic Anthropologist and Human Identification expert, and founding member of the Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala (FAFG, Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala). With the close guidance and training he received from Dr. Clyde Snow, Peccerelli ensures this legacy is carried on the FAFG through the care and attention given to the families who trust the FAFG to accompany then in their journey for truth. Today, as FAFG’s Executive Director, he leads the development and implementation of a Multidisciplinary Human Identification System that applies victim investigation, forensic-archaeology, -anthropology, and -genetics to uncover the identity of victims of mass human rights abuses, and the truth behind their disappearance. Applied in over 1,900 cases throughout the country, this system supports the search for and identification of victims from Guatemala’s internal armed conflict (1960 – 1996). Working within and supporting the Public Ministry (Ministerio Publicos, MP) in Guatemala, they use the evidence uncovered by the FAFG to hold the perpetrators accountable for their crimes against humanity from the conflict, therefore they are often called upon to testify and present expert reports in emblematic cases in the Guatemalan judicial system. Among his honors, Peccerelli has been recognized as Time Magazine and CNN’s 50 Latin American Leaders for the New Millennium.
Dr. Clyde Snow, a prominent Oklahoman, and an internationally known anthropologist and forensic scientist, committed his knowledge and skills to the pursuit of social justice through the recovery and identification of victims of human rights abuses around the world.
In recognition of his global impact, to honor the legacy of his transformative work, and to support the grassroots social justice work of other activists seeking justice for those whose human rights have been violated, the Center for Social Justice established the Clyde Snow Social Justice Award in 2012. The first award was given to Dr. Snow himself, with subsequent awards being given every two years. Visit the 'Past Awardees' page to learn more about the recipients of the Clyde Snow Social Justice Award.
Nominees can come from any field and reside in any country. The awardee (or a representative of a group) travels to the University of Oklahoma to participate in the award ceremony, meet with students and members of the community, and give presentations about their work. The award consists of $5000 to support ongoing social justice work and a sculpture designed by artist Harvey Pratt.
Questions related to the award may be directed towards the Chair of the Clyde Snow Social Justice Award Committee, Misha Klein (Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma): misha@ou.edu.
