Julissa Villanueva
{{short description|Doctor of forensic medicine from Honduras}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Julissa Villanueva
| image = File:Julissa Villanueva (Honduras).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|5|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| employer = Public Prosecutor's Office (Honduras)
| known_for = Forensic science
Pathology
| awards = Women of Courage
}}
Semma Julissa (Julissa) Villanueva Barahona (born 12 May 1972) is a Honduran public servant, who is the Director of the Honduras Public Prosecutor's Office Forensic Medicine Department.
Education
Julissa Villanueva was born in Tegucigalpa in 1972.{{Cite news|url=http://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/1117021-410/no-me-imagin%C3%A9-ni-so%C3%B1%C3%A9-ser-la-directora-de-medicina-forense|title="No me imaginé ni soñé ser la directora de Medicina Forense"|work=Diario La Prensa|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es-LA}} She studied medicine after seeing her father suffering from tetanus, and is now a doctor who specialises in pathology.{{Citation|last=US Embassy HN|title=Forensic Medicine Director Julissa Villanueva with English subtitles|date=2018-03-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Xeh12nmNs|access-date=2018-03-24}} She chose to specialise in pathology when she heard about the shortage of skilled forensic scientists in Honduras.
Career
Villanueva began working as a forensic pathologist in 2002. She was appointed Director of Forensic Science in the Public Prosecutor's Office in 2013.{{Cite news|url=http://www.proceso.hn/index.php/component/k2/item/17889.html|title=Interventora oficializa nombramiento de Semma Villanueva en Medicina Forense|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es-es|archive-date=2018-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325105851/http://www.proceso.hn/index.php/component/k2/item/17889.html|url-status=dead}} In 2015 she launched the Journal of Forensic Sciences of Honduras.{{Cite news|url=http://noticias.universia.hn/cultura/noticia/2015/07/31/1129204/lanza-primera-revista-cientifica-forense-honduras.html|title=Se lanza la primera Revista Científica Forense en Honduras|last=noticias.universia.hn|work=Noticias Universia Honduras|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es|archive-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122221/http://noticias.universia.hn/cultura/noticia/2015/07/31/1129204/lanza-primera-revista-cientifica-forense-honduras.html|url-status=dead}}
Villanueva works to protect women and children from violent crimes in Honduras.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2015/01/24/semma-julissa-villanueva-barahona-video/|title=Semma Julissa Villanueva Barahona (VIDEO)|date=2015-01-24|work=Diario La Tribuna Honduras|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es-ES|archive-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121184647/http://www.latribuna.hn/2015/01/24/semma-julissa-villanueva-barahona-video|url-status=dead}} Working with Spain, Villanueva is developing a program called DNA Prokids.{{Cite news|url=https://diariodecaracas.com/gente/villanueva-la-forense-hondurena-contra-la-impunidad-el-olvido|title=Villanueva, la forense hondureña contra la impunidad y el olvido|work=El Diario de Caracas|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es}} She has encouraged the Public Prosecutor's Office to give accredited training to forensic scientists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mp.hn/Forense/medicos-de-patologia-forense-fortalecen-capacidades-en-la-escena-del-crimen-2/|title=Médicos de Patología Forense fortalecen capacidades en la Escena del Crimen {{!}} Dirección General Medicina Forense Honduras|website=www.mp.hn|language=es-ES|access-date=2018-03-24|archive-date=2018-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325092813/https://www.mp.hn/Forense/medicos-de-patologia-forense-fortalecen-capacidades-en-la-escena-del-crimen-2/|url-status=dead}} Villanueva has driven for more Villanueva worked with the United States Department of State to use DNA to identify migrant bodies.{{Cite news|url=https://sociallay.com/meet-the-2018-worldwide-womenofcourage/|title=Meet the 2018 Worldwide #WomenofCourage - Social Lay|date=2018-03-21|work=Social Lay|access-date=2018-03-24|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325045109/https://sociallay.com/meet-the-2018-worldwide-womenofcourage/|url-status=dead}} She introduced a computerised database to store information in the morgue.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2017/01/04/directora-forense-advierte-nuevo-sistema-informatico-estadistico/|title=Directora forense advierte sobre nuevo sistema informático y estadístico|date=2017-01-04|work=Diario La Tribuna Honduras|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es-ES}} Villanueva created the first humanitarian cemetery in Honduras, which allows unclaimed or unidentified corpses to be exhumed and used as evidence in clinical trials, inspired by the military cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2018/03/23/melania-trump-entrega-premio-julissa-villanueva-valor/|title=Melania Trump entrega premio a Julissa Villanueva por su valor|date=2018-03-23|work=Diario La Tribuna Honduras|access-date=2018-03-24|language=es-ES}} She developed a Nationwide Human Identification Registry to handle the unsolved murders across the country. She introduced Gesell chambers, to allow victims of sexual harassment or abuse to provide testimony in court without revealing their identity.
In 2018 she received the International Women of Courage Award from the United States Department of State.{{Cite news|url=https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/03/279434.htm|title=2018 International Women of Courage Award Recipients Announced|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2018-03-24|language=en-US}} She was awarded the honour by Melania Trump.{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/03/24/world/politics-diplomacy-world/melania-trump-honors-non-u-s-women-courage/|title=Melania Trump honors non-U.S. women for courage|date=2018-03-24|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2018-03-24|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}}{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/23/politics/melania-trump-state-department-courage/index.html|title=Melania Trump honors International Women of Courage at State Dept.|first=Betsy |last=Klein|work=CNN|access-date=2018-03-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.state.gov/stories/2018/03/21/en/meet-2018-international-womenofcourage|title=Meet the 2018 International #WomenofCourage|work=DipNote|access-date=2018-03-24|language=en}}
References
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{{International Women of Courage Awards}}
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Category:People from Tegucigalpa
Category:Honduran pathologists
Category:Women forensic scientists
Category:21st-century women scientists
Category:Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award