The International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (ISISC) was established by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Italy, in Siracusa, in 1972 as a not-for-profit, educational and research institution focusing on international law, criminal justice and human rights. ISISC was created through a joint effort by the International Association of Penal Law and the City, Province and Chamber of Commerce of Siracusa, the City of Noto and the Sicilian Region, who provide financial support.

Over the last 34 years, ISISC has designed and implemented over 380 seminars, conferences, trainings and capacity-building programs for around 27,000 professionals (government officials, judges, prosecutors, police officers, academics, and lawyers) from 160 countries. Participants have included over 4,500 professors from 460 universities and representatives of more than 130 inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. ISISC is one of the leading training institutions for legal professionals in the Arab world and its programs have reached over 2,500 jurists from throughout the region, including many prominent figures in government ministries, universities and human rights organizations.

The Institute has pursued a leadership role developing United Nations norms and standards in the field of international criminal justice and human rights. The most important achievement of this long-standing commitment is certainly embodied in the Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which, since its inception, ISISC greatly contributed as part of its programs fostering the rule of law in different international settings.

ISISC is also involved in scholarly and policy-oriented research projects and has produced a significant number of publications on human rights, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and post-conflict justice. Several of these publications represent the defining Arabic language texts in the field, particularly those concerning international human rights and international criminal law.

The Institute, although an autonomous legal entity, is under the scientific auspices of the International Association of Penal Law (Association Internationale de Droit Pénal).

The Institute has also added to Italian legal doctrine and legislation through scientific activities and publications. The participation of so many Jurists who have come to the Institute as young researchers and who have since become professors of note is also worth mentioning.

As an educator, it is with particular pride and pleasure to note that young jurists, literally by the thousands and from all over the world, have met in Siracusa. From these contacts friendships have developed, as well as a better understanding of cultural diversity. While such contributions cannot be quantitatively assessed, their intellectual and moral impact is surely significant.

It has been my privilege to stand among the architects of these accomplishments, but I hasten to add that such success would not have been possible without the cooperation of several colleagues and friends who, like me, have voluntarily dedicated their time and effort to the Institute's work. The dedication of these colleagues, of the members of the Board, and of the staff of the Institute have been essential to its life and to its achievements. Our successors will, therefore, be the heirs to a proud legacy.

The presence and activities of the Institute in Siracusa and in Sicily have symbolic significance. The beautiful city of Siracusa, with its ancient culture radiating from the centre of the Mediterranean, has for over 30 years been the host city to this Institute, which likewise emanated the culture of legality and the protection of human rights all over the world. In an emblematic gesture, the city of Siracusa has proclaimed itself to be a "city of peace and human rights." A sign at the entrance to Siracusa carries that motto, which is supported by the Institute's work affirming our conviction that peace and justice are indivisible: there can be no peace without justice, and no justice without peace.

The intellectual and human openness of the Institute's work and spirit have set a positive example, which many of the younger participants have embraced and carried with them throughout their careers. Notwithstanding all of these contributions, the Institute has not grown into an elitist or closed institution, purposefully remaining open, accessible, and service-oriented, particularly towards those with fewer opportunities for access to academic and scientific development.

It is said in the Torah, and both Christianity and Islam echo it, that "he who saves one life has saved all of humanity." If ISISC in its work has contributed to saving one life, or to sparing one person from torture, or making one human being's life better, then that alone has made its existence worthwhile. And that belief is what keeps us working at the Institute - the staff, the board, and all our collaborators.