The Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death is a set of international guidelines, used by the United Nations, to provide guidance on the investigation of suspicious deaths, particularly those in which the responsibility of a State is suspected (either as a result of act or omission).
The protocol, which was first adopted in 1991, remains a groundbreaking piece of work with significant impact.
However, many human rights advocates say the time is ripe to revise the protocol, to take account of developments in both international law and forensic science. Barbara Frey, director of the University of Minnesota's Human Rights Program, says updating the protocol will ensure its continuing relevance over the coming decades.
