Dear Visitor,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the site of the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM), formerly known as the "International Academy of Legal Medicine and Social Medicine". Founded in 1938, in Bonn (Germany), the IALM is the oldest and most famous scientific association with international scope in the sphere of Legal Medicine and the Forensic Sciences. Its membership is drawn from every continent, with professionals who are directly and indirectly involved in the various areas of forensic expertise. Its main aim is to further scientific progress in the field of Legal Medicine, especially by promoting cooperation and information exchange among specialists on an international level, by holding scientific meetings and conferences, and through scientific publications. IALM also collaborates with other scientific societies and endeavours to provide, as required, the information and expertise to answer public inquiries related to the area of Legal (Forensic) Medicine.
One of the many initiatives promoted by the IALM is the triennial scientific conference, a meeting point where professionals can exchange experiences, engage in scientific discussion and share ideas, and keep in touch with the latest theoretical, technological and scientific advances. I would encourage you to attend these scientific gatherings, since I am sure that you will gain a great deal from them, and find something memorable in each one. The International Journal of Legal Medicine is the official publication of IALM. Please it, since it is one of the most distinguished international publications in the area of Legal Medicine and the Forensic Sciences.
Several sections currently operate under the IALM, some of which cover particular geographic areas and/or fields of knowledge, like the European Academy of Legal Medicine and the Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, which also promote courses and periodic scientific meetings, and are responsible for a number of publications.
The site you are now visiting is being renovated. It is in the early stages. We want to make it a dynamic site that facilitates contacts between professionals and academics in the area of Legal Medicine and other forensic sciences from around the world. We would appreciate your help in improving it, so feel free to contribute with ideas related to your particular area. You can do this in several ways. For example, you can send us pictures of your cases for the “Forensic Atlas”, or comments on your country’s legal medical and forensic system for the section on “World Forensic Systems”. We also welcome items about national and international societies that you know of, and which will be included in the section on “Societies”. The quality and scope of the information provided on this site thus depends on you.
I urge you to become member of the International Academy of Forensic Medicine and to participate in its next international congress, to be held in Lisbon from 28th to 30th May 2009, to work with us and help us explore the multiple diverse facets that make up our academy.
You can be sure that IALM will continue to work tirelessly to improve itself and achieve its goals. And I hope that IALM work will generate close contacts between professionals of all countries of the world, and a renewed determination to cooperate and go forward together – always bearing in mind that there is no project in this domain that is worthwhile and can survive if we do not take seriously the values of humanism, human dignity, impartiality and sincerity.  I fully believe in the potential of our area of work and in the value of the course that lies ahead, and that this value and potential derive primarily from our capacity to launch ourselves in any direction. Together, we can accomplish amazing things.
I and all IALM board members, we are available to serve, to serve the society, to serve Legal Medicine and forensic sciences in general, with all that is best in our minds and hearts. You can count on us.  Just as we know we count on you!

Kind regards
Prof. Duarte Nuno Vieira
President of IALM