Awareness of the Sydney Declaration among forensic science practitioners: An international survey

The Sydney Declaration (SD) is a landmark document developed through years of international collaboration to define forensic science and establish its foundational principles through seven core tenets (Roux et al., 2021, 2022 [1,2]). Since its publication in 2022, the SD has been actively promoted worldwide and serves as the focal point of a special issue in Forensic Science International (Miranda et al. [3]). To assess its reception and practical impact, an international survey, available in English, French, and Spanish, was conducted among forensic science professionals. The study aimed to evaluate awareness, perceptions, and the extent of implementation of the SD across education, training, research, and casework. Findings indicate broad agreement with the SD, which is widely regarded as offering a comprehensive and contemporary framework for forensic science. However, challenges remain, including ambiguity around its purpose, the use of complex academic language, and uncertainty about its alignment with existing quality assurance standards. To ensure the SD fulfils its intended role as a foundational and transversal framework, broader engagement is needed, both within the forensic science community and across related fields such as law and criminology. Expanding these conversations is key to bridging the gap between theory and practice.