The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights is an Italian not-for-profit foundation dedicated to education, training and research in the fields of international and comparative criminal justice and human rights. Its purpose is to contribute to international peace and security through the effective implementation of criminal law, as well as promote the rule of law and protect human rights in criminal justice systems worldwide. Established in Siracusa (Italy) in September 1972 by the International Association of Penal Law, in cooperation with the City, Province, and Chamber of Commerce of Siracusa (subsequently, a Convention was entered into with the Sicilian Region), the Siracusa International Institute is acknowledged by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Italy of 16 May 1980. The Institute enjoys consultative status with the United Nations and participatory status with the Council of Europe. In 1992, the Institute signed a special cooperation agreement with the United Nations Office in Vienna and became one of the nineteen organizations comprising the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network. The work of the Siracusa International Institute focuses on three fundamental pillars: postgraduate education, scientific research and technical assistance programs. Its activities range from specialization courses on international criminal law for young penalists, for junior prosecutors and for PhD Candidates, to scientific research projects on topics as the fight against illicit trade, fact-finding mechanisms and globalization, and to technical assistance programs designed to contribute to the reform of the justice system in countries as Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Qatar, Tunisia, Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia. The Institute has particular expertise in training judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and related criminal justice professionals.