Leveraging DNA Databases to Reconnect Families Separated by Conflicts and Humanitarian Crises

Ongoing global conflicts and humanitarian crises have led to unprecedented displacement, including millions of separated children, many of whom, especially infants, cannot be traced using traditional methods. This paper advocates for the establishment of a voluntary, privacyprotected global DNA database, managed by an extra-governmental entity, to facilitate family reunification. It presents a comprehensive socio-technical framework that synthesizes a novel operational model with the requisite legal and ethical safeguards for responsible implementation. The proposed model moves beyond traditional reactive methods by focusing on a proactive strategy of collecting DNA from at-risk populations prior to a crisis. The framework’s ethical architecture is built upon stringent informed consent protocols, data confidentiality and security, individual data sovereignty, trauma-informed approaches integrated with psychosocial support, and strict adherence to international human rights law and the highest data protection standards. Addressing risks such as state misuse, improper data sharing, and genetic exceptionalism is paramount to ensure the database serves purely humanitarian ends and protects vulnerable populations. The paper concludes that the system’s viability is contingent upon its independent, extra-governmental governance, which is essential for building trust and preventing misuse, ultimately offering an invaluable tool to reunite families and uphold the fundamental right to family life.