Siracusa International Institute Website

The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rightsis an Italian not-for-profit foundation (ONLUS) devoted to the study and advancement of criminal sciences. The Siracusa International Institute, which operates under the scientific auspices of the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP-IAPL), provides for training opportunities of government officials, judges, prosecutors, police officers, academics and lawyers with a view to strengthen the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the enforcement of criminal justice on a national, regional and international level. In post-graduate and in-depth specialization educational courses, the Institute contributes to the legal doctrine and enhancement of criminal law, and brings together jurists from all legal systems and all parts of the world. Through conducting scientific research and technical assistance on international criminal law, international criminal justice, comparative criminal law and the protection of human rights, the Siracusa International Institute is a major contributor to developing more effective criminal justice systems worldwide, and in the strengthening of respect for human rights and the rule of law.

The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights was founded in Siracusa in September 1972 by the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP-IAPL) and the City, Province and Chamber of Commerce of Siracusa (subsequently, a Convention was entered into with the Sicilian Region). The Institute is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in consultative status with the United Nations.In 1992, the Institute signed a special cooperation agreement with the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV) and became one of the eighteen organizations comprising the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network.

In December 2015 Jean François Thony was elected President of the Siracusa International Institute. Mr. Thony is the Executive Vice-president of the AIDP and Procureur Géneral at the Cour d’appel of Rennes (France).

Several members of the Board of Directors of the Siracusa International Institute are elected by the AIDP from internationally renowned scholars and experts.