Libera

Libera, formally known as Libera. Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie, is an Italian non-governmental association devoted to opposing mafia organizations and organized crime through public education, civic mobilization, legal advocacy, community development and the social reuse of assets confiscated from criminal groups. It was established on 25 March 1995 by Luigi Ciotti, building on a broader anti-mafia and social-justice tradition in Italy. Rather than functioning as a conventional commercial brand, Libera operates as a coordinating and campaigning platform for associations, foundations, companies, trade unions, student organizations, social cooperatives and local communities. A central part of Libera's work is the effort to transform property taken from mafia families and criminal organizations into resources for public benefit. Its first major initiative was a signature campaign seeking legislation that would allow confiscated property to be assigned for social purposes. The campaign gathered one million signatures and contributed to the adoption of legislation on 7 March 1996. That legal framework became important to Libera's subsequent work, including support for cooperatives and other organizations that manage confiscated land and buildings. Libera's activities combine remembrance, education and practical local action. It organizes public events about organized crime, supports networks of associations and encourages communities to develop lawful and socially responsible alternatives in places where mafia influence has been strong. The organization also promotes encounters with people directly involved in the anti-mafia movement, helping connect historical memory with civic participation. Its annual and recurring initiatives include the Carovana Antimafie, a traveling program of public events organized with Italian trade unions and ARCI, and Estate Liberi!, a program through which students and other participants undertake volunteer work and training on confiscated land. Through the Libera Terra project, cooperatives use confiscated land and other assets to produce food and other goods under conditions intended to respect workers, the environment and the law. Libera Terra is a trademark associated with participating cooperatives, not simply a conventional consumer-goods label. Nine cooperatives using the mark formed the Consorzio Libera Terra Mediterraneo, which supports cooperation around land reuse and responsible tourism. These activities give tangible economic and social expression to Libera's wider objective: replacing fear, coercion and illicit control with lawful employment, community ownership and public value. Libera also coordinates a broad coalition. Reference material records that approximately 1,500 associations, foundations and corporations were members in 2011. Its recognition by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and its special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council reflect the institutional reach of its advocacy. In 2009 it received recognition from the European Economic and Social Committee, and in 2012 it was included by The Global Journal among the world's 100 best NGOs, as the only Italian organization in that selection. Libera remains principally associated with Italian anti-mafia activism, but its educational and campaigning work has included international events and audiences.

Libera was founded in Italy on 25 March 1995 by Luigi Ciotti with the aim of organizing lawful and socially constructive action against mafias and organized crime. Its formation reflected the need to connect anti-mafia advocacy with ordinary civic participation. From the beginning, the association presented organized crime not only as a law-enforcement problem but also as a social, economic and cultural challenge requiring education, community organization and public accountability. The association's first major initiative focused on property confiscated from criminal organizations. Libera collected one million signatures in support of a legal proposal that would allow such property to be assigned for social and community purposes. The initiative helped lead to legislation adopted on 7 March 1996. This measure provided a foundation for a model in which land and buildings removed from mafia control could be managed by associations, cooperatives and other bodies for lawful public benefit rather than remaining unused or becoming symbols of unresolved criminal power. From 1996 onward, Libera organized the Carovana Antimafie, a traveling series of meetings and public events. The initiative has been conducted with ARCI and the major Italian trade unions CGIL, CISL and UIL. Its format has enabled the association to bring anti-mafia discussion to different cities, connect local experiences and maintain public attention on organized crime. The program has also included international stops and events, extending Libera's message beyond a single region or locality. Libera developed a broad coalition structure involving associations, foundations, corporations, trade unions, universities and student groups. Reference material records approximately 1,500 member organizations in 2011. This network allows the association to combine campaigning with educational programs and local projects. Among these are Campi della Legalità summer camps, organized with ARCI, the Italian General Confederation of Labour, Rete degli Studenti Medi and Unione degli Universitari. Participants work on land formerly owned by mafia families, now confiscated by the state and administered by associations or social cooperatives. The camps also include visits and discussions related to the history of the anti-mafia movement. The practical reuse of confiscated assets became especially visible through Libera Terra. Cooperatives participating in the project use confiscated land or other property to produce goods under a trademark associated with the initiative. The project seeks to demonstrate that areas once controlled through intimidation can support lawful employment, responsible production and community benefit. Nine cooperatives using the Libera Terra mark established the Consorzio Libera Terra Mediterraneo, which promotes collaboration in land reuse and responsible tourism. The model links anti-mafia work with labor rights, environmental responsibility and local economic regeneration. Estate Liberi! extends this work to students and volunteers. Through training and supervised volunteer activity managed by social cooperatives involved in Libera Terra, participants learn about confiscated property, anti-mafia history and the responsibilities of civic engagement. The program turns remembrance into direct experience and helps introduce younger generations to the association's methods and objectives. Libera has received institutional and international recognition. It is recognized by the Italian Ministry of the Interior as an association for social promotion and holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In 2009 it received recognition from the European Economic and Social Committee. In 2012 The Global Journal included it among the world's 100 best NGOs, naming it the only Italian association in that selection. Luigi Ciotti has remained the organization's founder and president, while sociologist Nando dalla Chiesa has served as honorary president. Dalla Chiesa's anti-mafia involvement is also connected to the assassination of his father, General Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa, by the Mafia in Palermo in 1982. Libera's continuing identity rests on the combination of public remembrance, coalition-based advocacy, education and the visible conversion of confiscated criminal resources into community assets.

• 2012

  Named among the world's 100 best NGOs

  [1]Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org

  The Global Journal includes Libera in its list of the world's 100 best NGOs and identifies it as the only Italian association selected.

• 2011

  Coalition reaches approximately 1,500 member organizations

  [1]Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org

  Reference material records approximately 1,500 associations, foundations and corporations participating in the Libera network.

• 2009

  European Economic and Social Committee recognition

  [1]Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org

  The European Economic and Social Committee recognizes Libera's anti-mafia and civic work.

• 1996

  Campaign for social reuse of confiscated property

  [1]Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org

  A one-million-signature campaign contributes to legislation adopted on 7 March allowing confiscated criminal assets to be reused for social purposes.

• 1996

  Carovana Antimafie begins

  [1]Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org

  Libera begins its recurring traveling anti-mafia program with ARCI and the CGIL, CISL and UIL trade unions.

• 1995

  Libera is founded

  [1]Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org

  Luigi Ciotti establishes Libera on 25 March as an association promoting lawful civic action against mafias and organized crime.

A civic and social-justice organization that combines anti-mafia advocacy with education, remembrance, coalition building and the practical redevelopment of confiscated criminal assets.

• Social-enterprise goods

  Libera Terra

  Libera Terra is a trademark used by cooperatives participating in Libera's project to reuse land and other assets confiscated from mafia organizations. The associated goods are intended to represent lawful production, workers' rights, environmental responsibility and community regeneration. The initiative is supported by a consortium of participating cooperatives and also connects agricultural reuse with responsible tourism.

• Volunteer and education program

  Campi della Legalità

  Campi della Legalità are summer camps in which volunteers, including students, work on land formerly held by mafia families and later confiscated by the state. The program combines practical work with training, historical learning and meetings concerning the anti-mafia movement. Libera organizes the camps with partner associations, trade-union and student organizations.

• Volunteer and training program

  Estate Liberi!

  Estate Liberi! gives students and other participants opportunities to volunteer and receive training through social cooperatives involved in the Libera Terra network. Its focus is experiential learning on confiscated property and understanding how civic participation can support communities affected by organized crime.

• Public campaign and events · 1996

  Carovana Antimafie

  Carovana Antimafie is a traveling program of public meetings and events about organized crime and anti-mafia action. It has been organized with ARCI and Italy's principal trade unions, enabling Libera to bring education, remembrance and civic mobilization to communities in Italy and, at times, internationally.

• 1996Carovana Antimafie

  Italy · International events

  A traveling anti-mafia initiative using public events, meetings and education to connect communities and organizations involved in the fight against organized crime.

  Outcome. The initiative became a recurring platform for public awareness and coalition-building.

  Source
• 1995One-million-signature campaign for confiscated assets

  Italy

  Libera collected one million signatures for a proposal to permit confiscated mafia property to be reused for social purposes.

  Outcome. Legislation enabling social reuse of confiscated assets was adopted on 7 March 1996.

  Source
• Campi della Legalità

  Italy

  Summer volunteer camps combine work on confiscated land with training and encounters concerning anti-mafia history and civic responsibility.

  Outcome. The program provides practical community involvement and educational exposure for students and volunteers.

  Source
• Estate Liberi!

  Italy

  A volunteer and training initiative delivered through social cooperatives connected with Libera Terra.

  Outcome. Participants gain direct experience of the social reuse of confiscated property.

  Source

• 1996

  Pursue legislation for social reuse of confiscated assetsStrategy

  Background

  Libera identified the continued public value of confiscated mafia property as a central issue in anti-mafia policy.

  Action taken

  It organized a national signature campaign and promoted a legal framework for assigning confiscated goods to associations and community-serving organizations.

  Aftermath

  The campaign helped lead to legislation adopted on 7 March 1996 and shaped Libera's later cooperative and educational programs.

  Source

• Develop Libera Terra as a social-reuse modelStrategy

  Background

  Libera sought to demonstrate that confiscated land and property could support lawful economic activity and community development.

  Action taken

  It supported cooperatives using confiscated assets and associated their products with the Libera Terra trademark.

  Aftermath

  Participating cooperatives later formed the Consorzio Libera Terra Mediterraneo to support land reuse and responsible tourism.

  Source

1. 1Libera (association)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Libera official websitelibera.it