Inaugurated in 1957, the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) is the only worldwide Association to bring together academics and practicing professionals of various disciplines in forensic science. They include: forensic scientists, who are generally responsible for autopsies and for clinical forensic medicine i.e., examination of victims of rape and other types of violence in adults and juveniles, taking sexual and other delinquents into care, etc. those working in police, government or private forensic laboratories, dealing with fingerprints, biochemical grouping, drug analysis, toxicology, ballistics, traces evidence examination, accident reconstruction, etc. and those working in other branches of forensic science, such as forensic psychiatry, physical anthropology, medical law and bioethics, forensic odontology, etc. The aims and objectives of IAFS are: to develop the forensic sciences; to assist forensic scientists and others to exchange scientific and technical information, and to organize triennial meetings

Since 1957, a total of 17 meetings have been organized in major cities around the world. Participated by 1306 forensic scientists from 55 countries, the 17th Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences held from 21 to 26 August, 2005 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (IAFS 2005 HONG KONG) was a great success. The scientific program comprised 5 plenary lectures and the Lucas Lecture, 2 special sessions: “Forensic Science in China” and “The International Forensic Summit”, 15 workshops, 417 oral presentations and 382 posters. The concurrent technical exhibition had a total of 56 booths. A large surplus was generated, a portion of which will be passed on to the organizer of the next meeting while the rest will be used for setting up the IAFS 2005 HONG KONG Forensic Foundation dedicated to facilitating the advancement of forensic sciences and medicine in Hong Kong and the neighboring region.