International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences

- ISISC -

 

The International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (ISISC) is an Italian not-for-profit foundation (ONLUS) acknowledged by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Italy, dedicated to education, training and research in the fields of international and comparative criminal justice and human rights. It is also a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) recognized by a Decree Law of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For 40 years, ISISC has been a major contributor to the development of more effective criminal justice systems worldwide, and in the strengthening of respect for human rights and the Rule of Law.

Established in Siracusa (Italy) on September 1972 by the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP/IAPL), it enjoys consultative status with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. ISISC has also a special cooperation agreement with the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV), and it is one of the eighteen organizations comprising the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network. In general, the Institute supports the development of the United Nations standards and norms in the field of international criminal justice and human rights.

Throughout its history, ISISC has organized over 510 conferences, training and educational seminars and meetings of experts attended by 37,278 jurists from 165 countries, including over 5,000 academics from 518 universities. It has also collaborated with 41 intergovernmental organizations, numerous Italian and foreign governmental bodies, and 97 non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations worldwide. Its activities range from committees of experts of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Police Office (Europol), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the NATO School, to Specialization Courses for Young Penalists in International Criminal Law, to research projects and technical assistance programs designed to contribute to the reform of the justice system in countries as Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

This work has resulted in 146 published volumes of scholarly and scientific research, as well as conference proceedings relating to international criminal justice, comparative criminal law, human rights and country-specific issues of criminal law and procedure.

Many of the ISISC projects have been implemented in collaboration with UNODC and/or other PNI members. In 2007 ISISC compiled a set of guidelines and recommendations for a strategic, integrated plan for the future of Iraqi's Rule of Law, which was sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister and all relevant Iraqi institutions. This set was prepared under the project "The Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Rule of Law and Justice in Iraq (CSPI)". This project was implemented with the involvement of key Iraqi Justice System institutions and with the support of UNODC and other international partners. ISISC also implemented the project "Iraqi Judicial Integrity", which has facilitated the adoption of the "United Nations Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct" by the Supreme Council of Judges of Iraq. The "Provincial Justice Initiative (PJI)", conducted between 2004 and 2010 in cooperation with UNODC, trained 970 Afghan justice sector actors in 19 different Provinces on theoretical and practical aspects of fundamental criminal justice topics.

Via Logoteta, 27, 96100 Siracusa, Italy
Tel: +39-0931-414 515 or 21 495
Fax: +39-0931-67 622
E-mail: segreteria@isisc.org
Home page: www.isisc.org
President: M. Cherif Bassiouni
Scientific Director: Filippo Musca filippo.musca@isisc.org
Other contact person: Stefania Lentinello stefania.lentinello@isisc.org

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