Concretely protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law in criminal legal systems in the world and develop effective mechanisms to combat transnational organized crime are the main goals of The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, a foundation established in 1972 in Siracusa itself.

The Institute has always contributed to these goals by carrying out several ambitious and complex activities. First and foremost, therefore, through the implementation of technical assistance programs aimed at those countries in need of extensive reforms of their judicial systems. The Institute has solid experience in training judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers in countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Tunisia, Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.

At the international level, the Institute holds the status of an advisory body to the United Nations and has actively contributed to the establishment of the International Criminal Court – whose first draft statute was written in Siracusa – and in the adoption of important International Conventions, including including the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention).

The Institute has always been involved in research projects, workshops and training activities, in collaboration with hundreds of universities, intergovernmental and civil society organizations. Such activities involve scholars, jurists and professionals from all over the world and focus, among other things, on the strengthening of international cooperation in matters such as the fight against the financing of terrorism and organized criminal groups.

From the center of the Mediterranean, therefore, the Institute carries out with great commitment extremely difficult and essential challenges, positioning itself as a true fortress of human rights and as an organization at the forefront of the fight against organized crime. An essential mission that anyone, even with minimal effort, can help support in a decisive way.