::: SEASON OF LEGALITY 2009
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CAMPAIGN
When FLARE decided to take up the challenge to go for something unique, something unprecedented such as a European social campaign, our network knew well that it would have been all but a easy task. “Season of Legality” represented the very first concrete action taken by our network and today we can undoubtedly say it was a success, both politically and from an internal point of view.
From the political side, not a few and not little results have been achieved. When we first were hosted at the European Parliament in Strasbourg back in June 2008, Mr Jacques Barrot – back then Responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security – gave a speech in which he stressed the importance to begin a fight against organized crime in Europe in which to heavily involve civil societies.
From there, we wrote a declaration (Declaration 108/08) that presented three main requests: 1) to declare March 21 “European Day in Memory of Victims of Organized Crime”; 2) to push European and national institutions to work jointly with civil societies in the fight against organized crime; 3) to request the Commission and the Council of Europe to legislate in the matter of reuse for social purposes of property and goods confiscated to international criminal organizations. We handed the Declaration to the European Parliament to vote. Unfortunately we managed to collect only about 250 signatures (whereas a declaration needs approximately 400 to be approved). However, from our efforts in the European Parliament and in the Council of Europe a few remarkable results were achieved.
Firstly, Mr Gèrard Deprez, Chairman of the LIBE Committee (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs), included into his "Motion for a resolution" on the progress made in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice, an urgent recommendation for «the adoption of a legislative instrument on the confiscation of financial assets and property of international criminal organisations and on their re-use for social purposes». This text was adopted by the EP on April 22, 2009.
Also, the Proposal for a EP Recommendation to the Council "On the development of an EU criminal justice area" by Mrs Maria Grazia Pagano asked to «adopt without delay measures to act as prime mover and supporter of civil society and institutions in their efforts to combat mafias and take action with a view to the adoption of a legislative instrument on confiscation of the financial assets and property of international criminal organisations and on their re-use for social purposes». This proposal has been approved by the EP with 429 favourable votes out of 485 voters on May 7th, 2009. These signals are not little at all. We have managed to “shake” European institutions from inside and to draw their attention to what we find a priority for all European citizens.
As for the sake of the network, “Season of Legality” gave all members the opportunity to get a hold of the network itself, to understand better the network’s inner dynamics and to feel themselves belonging to a family. We joined all events of the campaign – excepted a few – and what I have seen was motivated members who gave their best to do their part in the campaign. From the smaller ones to the bigger and stronger NGOs they all did their part. I would like to mention a few examples, such as our Bulgarian members who had us meet Ognyan Stefanov; the conference in Nis, Serbia, focused on the matter of social reuse; the visit of Luigi Ciotti at the Novaya Gazeta in Moscow; the funeral of Ester Ada we attended on the island of Lampedusa, supposingly “guilty” of being an illegal migrant from Nigeria to Italy; our members from Lebanon, activists in a country of “splendid” contradictions who had us meet Jezal Khoury, and many others.
You all would realise that, in order to achieve our objectives, our network also need to find innovative ways to communicate our activities. One of these is Confiscopolis. We have come up with a board game in which players have to confiscate buildings and properties instead of buying houses and factories – the latter being a very popular worldwide board game. We brought Confiscopolis with us to many events of “Season of Legality” campaign, a very catchy spot (commercial) is available on our website and the online version of the game is soon to be launched. I would therefore ask you to “stay tuned” on this.
I would like to end by mentioning the work FLARE has been doing with what we call “victims of organized crime”. It’s been months now that we try to give voice to those people whose shouts have never been heard. We want to return dignity to them, or at least a bit of it. In this months we have had the fortune to meet Ilya Politkovski, Isoke Aikpitanyi, Bruce Cerew, Sengül Balikçi, Michael Beketov, Ognyan Stefanov and Jezal Khoury. There is a specific department in FLARE that is committed to have these friends’ status recognised internationally. It’s been a honour and a great effort to take part in the campaign “Season of Legality”. We have built the foundations, now we need to start with the first floor.
Michele Curto
FLARE president
Download "Season of Legality" overview (PDF, 2,15 MB)
Watch the video of "Confiscopolis"
NAPLES, ITALY – March 21
The FLARE European Social Campaign “Season of Legality” takes off on March 21 in Naples, Italy, on the occasion of the XIV Day of Memory and Commitment in Remembrance of Victims of Organized Crime.
The demonstration is beyond doubt the largest social event in Italy. Every year, tens of thousands people take part in it. “Libera”, the promoter of the event, is formed by over 1.200 associations and it represents a concrete commitment for those thousands people in Italy who are interested in and devoted to the fight against mafias and organized crime.
FLARE participate at the event for the second time and Ilya Politkovskaja (Anna Politkovskaja’s son), Sengül Balikçi (her husband was Hasan Balikçi, an engineer who worked for a long time for the Turkish Electric Company TEDAS, he was killed by several gunshots in 2002), Isoke Aikpitanyi (29, Nigerian, she was victim of human traffickers on her way to Europe and now lives in Aosta, Italy, for almost ten years where she runs a shelter for victims of human trafficking; she is author of the book “Le Ragazze di Benin City, la tratta delle nuove schiave dalla Nigeria ai marciapiedi d’Italia” - “Girls of Benin City, new slaves from Nigeria to Italian sidewalks”), and Bruce Cerew (African writer and activist in the Netherlands, whose achievements in various fields are creating a precedent for more tolerance, equality and breaking the barriers of injustice and discrimination) are participating at the event as FLARE guests.
TURIN, ITALY – March 23
The FLARE member “Terra del Fuoco” makes the second step of the FLARE European Social Campaign in Turin, Italy.
The official opening of the “Dice” (il Dado) to which the institutions of Turin, a FLARE delegation and many other people are invited. The Dice is a hosting community for Roma families (8 at the moment) and FLARE volunteers (EVS). The Dice project is unique on the entire Italian territory: it is based on a two-way relationship between the host and the guests: the latter are responsible for the refurbishing and maintenance of the building, whereas “Terra del Fuoco” supports them in the employment and administration processes.
Kids theatre performances, a soccer tournament, a open visit of the “Dice” for the local population and a music concert were in the agenda. The “Dice” is also part of a national campaign against racism at which Terra del Fuoco, FLARE member, plays a crucial role.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE – March 24
The event in Strasbourg consisted in the seminar “The social reuse of confiscated properties: experiences and legislations”.
Based on the Written Declaration 108/08 handed to the European Parliament by MEPs Vittorio Agnoletto, Josep Borrell Fontelles, Monica Frassoni, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou e Graham Watson, the seminar focused on the matter of social use of those properties and goods confiscated to organized crime.
The seminar intended to raise awareness among European institutions about the importance to begin legislate in the matter of social reuse of properties confiscated to organized crime groups. Lands, buildings, apartments etc. that are to be confiscated can in this way be used for social purposes. On this matter, the Italian experience of “Libera” is an example of good practices that can certainly be taken as a guideline for future implementations.
Mr Hans Pottering (President of the European Parliament) attended the seminar and gave full support in the promotion of an European law in the matter of social use of properties confiscated to organized crime groups.
BERLIN, GERMANY – March 27
The round-table organized by “FLARE”, “Libera” and “VIVA”, in collaboration with Italian the Institute of culture and the Humboldt-Universitat of Berlin, hosts Italian and German experts to discuss ways by which suggesting a coordination on a European level for fighting organized crime.
Prof. Dieter Kattenbusch, Institute of Romanistica at Humboldt-Universität, Laura Garavini, Chairman for PD at Antimafia Parlamentary Commission, MdB Klaus-Uwe Benneter, German deputee, Petra Reski, journalist and writer, Bernd Finger, chief Organized Crime department at the Berlin Police, attended the seminar.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – March 30
The aims of the FLARE campaign were promoted in several different universities in Baku. AYEAO members and volunteers disseminate promotional materials.
FLARE delegation participated in a seminar focused on the resolution of conflicts in the Caucasus area. Michele Curto, President of FLARE, based his lecture on explaining how tight is the relation between the political framework and the illegal markets in post-soviet countries, especially in the central Asian countries.
The event started a collaboration between the FLARE Network and the organizations that work daily in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is known indeed that most of the heroin trafficking destined to Europe pass through these countries and it represents an issue that FLARE intends to deepen.
LONDON, ENGLAND – March 30
On March 31th and April 1st, a small delegation of FLARE and Libera took part in the second meeting of the Softagri project. Softagri is a project implemented in the framework of the Grundtvig programme for adult education.
The main topic of this project is to try to set a common evaluation grid for sustainable food. FLARE brought the topic of the social reuse of confiscated property in the discussion, as a new experience of sustainable food production.
The main indicators have to take care about several aspects, from the soil’s environmental condition to the farmers’ energetic policies, from the packaging to the transport, from the healthiness of the food to the social impact of the production. In this framework, the experience of Libera, especially the Libera Terra cooperatives and the work of FLARE for the extension of the law on social reuse of confiscated property, can be a real and concrete input in order to push the civil society linked to the food chain production to think deeply at the social importance of food production and to begin to use food production like an educational tool as well, for all the European civil society.
BEIRUT, LEBANON – April 1
The event was organized by “Progressive Youth Organization” with the presence of members of the FLARE delegation, Lorenzo Bodrero and Michele Curto. The venue was the American University of Beirut. The topic of the events was “violence against and the trafficking of women”. The Panel was composed of Michele Curto, president of FLARE Network, Mazen Jaber from Amnesty International and Jean Pierre Katrib from the Foundation for Human and Humanitarian Rights.
This seminar was preceded by two days of advertising for the “Season of Legality” campaign by distributing the brochures of FLARE as well as interacting with the 7000 students in AUB. The event was covered by the local Lebanese media as well as AUB press. The FLARE delegation had the chance to meet the widow of assassinated journalist Samir Kassir, Jezal Khoury, TV show host from Al-Arabiya TV, as well as the former minister of telecommunications MP Marwan Hamade.
FLARE also met Jezal Khoury, journalist and tv host from Al-Arabiya TV. She is the widow of Samir Kassir who was assassinated on June 2, 2005 when a bomb planted under his car exploded. Kassir is considered one of the pillars of the Cedar revolution and a human rights and political activist. He was adamant on spreading democracy in the region and his strong ties with the Syrian opposition and intellectual were among the main rasons for his assassination.
The FLARE delegation also had the chance to visit the Palestinian refugee camp of Bourj al Brajni where they toured the camp and interacted with the local population.
GONDOMAR, PORTUGAL – April 4
The exhibition of FLARE key figures is the starting point for a small activity in the street handing out leaflets an promoting FLARE and its thematics. The key figures represent persons who gave their life to their countries, becoming a symbol for the defence and/or promotion of human rights.
PARIS, FRANCE – April 7
The delegation of FLARE has held two meetings in Paris.
The first one was with the founders of a new association, Legalité sans Frontières (Legality without Borders), born from a grassroots movement and recently become an association, formally speaking. LSF is active since November 2008 and is now committed to promote the social fight to organized crime in France. FLARE delegation shared the possibilities for future actions, starting from the event “Italian Week” to be held next June, and LSF has already asked to become a member of FLARE.
The second meeting has been held with the Association of Democrats in Paris. Roberto Forte, member of FLARE Board of Directors, presented the network to the attendees, who come from associations, political clubs and social movements.
The HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – April 9
The first part of the programme took place at the Haagse Hogeschool, and was open to students and the public. This part, entitled “€uro Mafias: Do you know about globalization of Mafia and Organized Crime in Europe?” featured an art contest participated by students who created artwork inspired by the theme of the event, an exhibition of key figures from the FLARE Programme 2008, movies, drama, and the interactive game, Confiscopolis, presented by the FLARE staff.
The second part of the programme, entitled “The Globalisation of Mafia and Organized Crime in Europe: Scenarios and Perspectives in the Netherlands”, was held at the Clingendael Instituut, and gave the academic perspective of the event. This session featured, among the others, Mrs Dina Siegel of the Utrecht University, also member of the Scientific Committee of FLARE, and Ms Gabriella Stramaccioni, of Libera. Topics regarding lover boys, trafficking, prostitution, and other criminal activities were discussed and debated.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – April 11
The aim of the event was to create consciousness among young people as well as informing them about the FLARE Network and to attract more young people to work with us for the FLARE Project.
During the event, workshops and seminars on three topics were run at Bilgi University.
The first session was about refugees’ rights, managed by Amnesty International in the frame of their project in Turkey in cooperation with United Nations.The lawyer Selen AY from UN informed participants on how they help Turkey work with refugees; after her, the professor Nuray ATES, a consultant in the Project, explained about the wrong-goings in the applications of law for refugees’ in Turkey.The Project coordinator.
The second session was run by Dr. Ahu KARASULU,a lecturer working in the field of organized crime.In her interactive workshop, she helped participants to understand the delicate line between crimes, the difference between legal and illicit.
The third workshop was run by Volkan PİRİNCCİ, social worker in the campaign run by Doga Dernegi, who spoke about the construction of a dam in a very specific area called Hasankeyf, South-eastern part of Turkey, where there is an ancient city and almost-extinct species and flora.
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – April 13
On April 14th this year 2009, “VUSA”, Vilnius university Students’ association, has organized an event joining the FLARE Network’s campaign “Season of Legality”. The event consisted of a conference mainly focused on young journalists, the goal being to prepare and motivate them for the fight against crime and corruption with the powerful tool they have got – publicity.
Five speakers were invited to represent their view and advices. Michele Curto, the president of FLARE Network, Sergejus Muravjovas, the executive director of Transparency International Lithuania, Dainius Radzevičius, the chair of Lithuanian Journalists Union, Rūta Grinevičiūtė, a host of investigative journalism TV programme and Aurelijus Katkevičius, the chief editor of the magazine “Business Class” (“Verslo Klasė”).
TERNOPIL, UKRAINE – April 14
On 14 April, 2009 the Youth Civil Organization “Social Initiatives of Youth” together with International Network - Youth Human Rights Movement conducted the seminar on the topic “Youth Role in Fighting against Mafia’. The event was organized in frame of the first European Social Campaign “Season of Legality”.
More than 30 participants representing Ternopil National Economic University, youth civil organizations “AIESEC”, EURO 26 and others had the opportunity to understand more about organized crime and corruption. Moreover, they obtained information on FLARE network and watched and discussed the movie “Gomorra”.
HEBRON, PALESTINE and JERUSALEM – April 14-15
A small FLARE delegation visited Palestine. The reason behind the visit was to try get a glance of a very peculiar situation in one of the most contradictory lands worldwide.
On April 14 FLARE met Mr Ray Dolphin, OCHA High Officer (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). He is part of a UN mission that monitors the effects of the wall upon Palestinian territories. He says that every year the amount of money spent on international missions in Palestine equals the one used for international cooperation in Africa in the past 20 years.
The next visit took place in the city of Hebron, Israel, on April 15. Mr Jaward Sayed, Hebron’s mayor and President of an association that helps rebuilding the city centre in order to motivate Palestinians to stay and live in their houses, welcomed FLARE’s delegation.
During the entire period of the visit, attempts were made to raise up the topic of organised crime. On the matter, it is impossible to talk to Israeli institutions, and in Palestine such issue is so deeply interrelated with state institutions that it is hard to understand mechanisms and interests. UN directives and guidelines are never implemented and civil rights are left in the hands of each soldier.
PULA, CROATIA – April 19
The “Season of Legality” event in Croatia took place in Pula at a resort facility right before the sea. The event consisted of a photo contest through which participants had the chance to portrait their personal perception of organized crime (see album below). The photos, therefore the participants, were all high school students. At the end of the event, all photographers have been awarded for taking part in the contest.
Additionally, FLARE President Michele Curto acknowledged the crowd by explaining the meaning and the aims behind the European social campaign “Season of Legality”. He also had the chance to meet Pula’s major, Mr Boris Miletic. Media too attended the event, among which Glas Istre and Regional Ekspress.
Finally, the event also showed the results that came out of a questionnaire distributed to over 500 high school students from Pula and surroundings. The survey aimed at understanding what the perception of organized crime is among young people. The results of the questionnaire will soon be available on this page.
PERG, AUSTRIA – April 19
“Season of Legality” stopped in Perg, Austria for a Photo Exhibition promoting Human Rights. Young People connected their photos with their dreams and hopes, stating what they wish for their future. The wishes were also connected with articles of Human Rights showing that everybody has the right to live in a free and legal world, in which the right to life and education is guaranteed.
NIS, SERBIA – April 21
The Republic of Serbia has recently approved a law that allows the government to confiscate properties to organized crime groups. The implementation of such law opens up new scenarios to the national fight against organized crime. However, the Serbian government and the city of Nis have shown great interest in understanding more about the Italian experience on the matter.
Particularly, Antonio Maruccia, High Commissioner at the Italian Government for Properties Confiscated to Mafias, Stefano Fumarulo, delegate from the City of Bari, Italy, and Michele Curto, FLARE Network President, participated at the round table.
Mr Maruccia shared the experience of the office he represents concerning the procedure in the matter of confiscation of properties to organized crime. The Government of Serbia and Serbian state institutions have indeed showed much interest during the past months on the matter of confiscation: a signal of this, the newly approved law on this very subject that came recently into force in Serbia.
Mr Fumarulo, on his side, opened doors for a deeper and tighter collaboration between the city of Bari and the city of Nis in the matter of fighting organized crime both on the social and on the political level. On this matter, the city of Bari is at the front-line in Italy in such fight.
Mr Curto, finally, gave an overview of the European social campaign “Season of Legality” that, at this moment, is over half-way. Additionally, he didn’t miss the chance to underline how important it is to start including civil society into the fight against organized crime, expecially in a country, Serbia, that has made such fight one of its political priority.
Numerous guests from embassies and local and national Serbian institutions participated at the conference, such as the city of Nis, Hungarian, Czech and Slovakian embassies, OSCE, the cities of Vranje, of Medijana, of Crveni Krst, of Palilula, of Pantele and of Niska Banja, Serbian Parliament delegates, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Serbian Association of Public Prosecutors, various NGOs etc.
PRISTINA, KOSOVO – April 23
The “Season of Legality” event in Kosovo was organized by FLARE member “Kosova Youth Network”. It aimed at promoting FLARE and its activities among the youth living in Pristina and at establishing potential new collaborations with the local institutions.
The new political status acquired by Kosovo allows certain criminal dynamics to develop fast within the territory. Kosovo is a must-cross area for a series of illegal activities as well as the ideal base for criminals where to locate their headquarters. For this reason, the entire Balkan area and Kosovo in particular represent a highly interesting context of research for FLARE.
LAMPEDUSA, ITALY – April 23
The demonstration was promoted by ARCI, Askavusa, and the No CIE Committee, with the support of the City of Lampedusa and in collaboration with FLARE and Migreurop (www.migreurop.org).
It had the aim of raising awareness about the issues caused by illegal migration, and to collect signatures against the planned IEC (centre for identification and expulsion) in Lampedusa and against exclusive immigration policies. Gad Lerner, a famous Italian journalist; Filippo Miraglia, ARCI reference person for the immigration area; and Michele Curto, the president of FLARE, intervened on stage.
The funeral of Ester Ada, 19 years old from Nigeria, was celebrated this very day in Lampedusa. Together with tens of other fellow people, Ester crossed the Mediterranean Sea on board of a tiny boat that eventually was blocked in between Italian and Maltese coastlines. After five days of waiting, Ester passed away on the boat. Today, FLARE is in touch with Ester’s brother, Austin.
SAINT PETERSBOURG, RUSSIA – April 25
On april 25th Members of AEGEE - Sankt-Peterburg and FLARE board member Alyona Ob’ezdchikova conducted a seminar about social consequences of drugs consumption and distribution. The seminar took place in State University of Aerocosmic Instrumentmaking.
The seminar consisted of several parts:
- general information about FLARE Network;
- speech about organized crime and campaign “Season of legality”;
- some words about AEGEE - Sankt-Peterburg;
- lecture about drug consumption effects in terms of human health and influence on social institutions.
SKOPJE, MACEDONIA – April 25
The FLARE member “Youth 4 Youth” organized a round table in Skopje as an opportunity to discuss with local authorities the law on confiscation of criminal properties and the role that FLARE can play in it. The law that allows the government to confiscate properties belonging to organized crime groups has become effective in early 2009. However, it still does not foreseen the social reuse for the same properties confiscated.
FLARE intends to deepen the collaboration with the Macedonian Agency for managing confiscated properties and to function as provider of expertise on the matter. At the seminar participated Vancho Shehtanski, Director of the agency for managing confiscated property, Darko Pavlovski and Jasna Dobrishic, OSCE, Rosen Dimov, Chairperson at Initsiativa Regional Youth Council and Barosso's youngest consultant, and Michele Curto, President of FLARE.
SOFIA, BULGARIA – April 27
Given the peculiarity of Bulgarian situation and the tight relation between state officers and organized crime, Bulgaria represents a focus for FLARE projects and activities.
FLARE member “Youth of Pazardzhik” organized the “Seson of Legality” event titled “Access to information and freedom of speech”. Bulgaria is a country where too often attacks against journalists – by means of verbal threatening, beatings, bombings and killings – occur. Freedom of speech and independent media are rare to be found and the few existing have a hard time in performing their daily duties. The recent decision by the EU to cancel a 220 million funds previously destined to the Bulgarian government demonstrates how serious the situation is.
At the seminar also participated Ognyan Stefanov, 54 , Frognews editor, harshly attacked in Sofia on September 24, 2008. Valentin Nenkov, chief editor of “Videlina” newspaper, Nikolay Zaichev, director of “European funds and programmes” at the municipality of Pazardzhik also took part at the seminar.
BUCAREST, ROMANIA – April 28
FLARE members and The National Anti-Drug Agency (ANA) organized a one-day event in Bucharest, a conference that was also the launch of an national campaign against drugs “Be aware, not addicted”.
The project consisted of a national contest aimed at provoking young people to create their own campaign against drugs and it was initiated by FLARE member “AEPADO”.
The chief of service of ANA, along with representatives of different Ministries and national NGOs attended the event, among with Michele Curto, President of FLARE, Giancarlo Caselli, former prosecutor in Palermo, and Tonio Dell’Olio, reference person for “Libera International”.
A special part of the conference was dedicated to the international phenomenon of drug trafficking and to the topic regarding the prevention of organized crime through an international legislation, the confiscation and social reuse of organized crime property.
Giancarlo Caselli, the general prosecutor who took the legacy of Falcone spoke about the importance of this common law and frame work. “This is legality”, he said, pointing at a pack of pasta. “If we take a first look, this is nothing more than a typical Italian product. But this pasta comes from land confiscated from Cosa Nostra. Now the land is being used with a social purpose, it’s offering a place to work for people, they are liberated.”
The conference was followed by a meeting between the foreign delegation and the Italian Ambassador in Bucharest.
PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO – April 29
At the “3rd National Anticorruption Conference” organized by MANS, FLARE participated at a panel of discussion bringing the Italian experience of the law on confiscation and the social reuse of organized crime properties.
The conference holds high credibility in Montenegro and represents a perfect example of the role civil society – in this case a well established NGO – can play in the fight against corruption and organized crime. MANS is active nationally with subsidiaries all over the country.
PETROSANI, ROMANIA – April 29
In Hunedoara county, ACSCVJ as a FLARE member, implemented the following project under the name of all the events: Season of legality.
The project took place between March 15 and May 15 and the target group was represented by young people between ages 14 and 30 from Hunedoara County.
The goal of the project was to form a repelling attitude towards organized crime and especially towards the phenomena of corruption among youths of age 14 - 30. The objectives of the project were to raise awareness among youths on the negative effects of corruption and the creation of automated reactions of repelling corruption
TIRASPOL, TRANSNISTRIA – May 1
The “Season of Legality” event in Tiraspol took the form of a visit in a region with an undefined future. Transnistria, however, an independent region belonging to the Republic of Moldova, is an other area of interest for FLARE activities and researches.
CHISINAU, MOLDOVA – May 2
FLARE visited Moldova shortly after the protests that followed the political elections in the end of April. Evidence and witnesses say several basic human rights have been violated by state law enforcements during and after the protests that – must be said – have been non-violent.
FLARE member “AVI Moldova” guided the FLARE delegation through Chisinau where they met several young people who took part in the protests. FLARE Communication and Information Department together with “AVI Moldova” elaborated a report focused on the events that took place at the end of April. FLARE is shortly delivering the report to the European Commission asking them to inquire deeper on human rights violations occurred then in Moldova.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – May 3
Luigi Ciotti, President of Libera, joined the FLARE delegation for the “Season of Legality” event in Moscow together with Michele Curto, President of Libera, and Alyona Obezdchikova, member of FLARE Board of Directors. FLARE delegation visited the editorial office of “Novaja Gazeta”, one of the few independent media in the country. Here, Anna Politkovskaya used to work until the day she was found killed in front of her apartment.
Given the recent events occurred in Russia that have jeopardised an already-weak freedom of expression, the country represents another important context to follow and to keep updated with within FLARE’s framework.
KIEV, UKRAINE – May 5
TBILISI, GEORGIA – May 6
Following FLARE monitoring mission that took place in Georgia in August 2008 shortly after the war between Georgia and Russia over the South Ossetia issue, FLARE visited the Caucasian country again. Here, FLARE member “CHCA - Charity Humanitarian Center Abkhazeti” had the FLARE delegation visit some of the refugee camps come out during and after the recent war
GOTEBORG, SWEDEN – May 7
FLARE member “Vagen Ut!” organized the “Season of Legality” event in Goteborg, Sweden. “Vagen Ut!” is a cooperative that since 2002 focus their work on the social inclusion of former inmates and drug addicts showing that social entrepreneurship and social empowerment is possible.
Additionally, in the past months the city of Goteborg – through the efforts of FLARE and of Vagen Ut! – has shown much interest towards the possibility to open up doors for the inclusion of a law regarding the social reuse of properties confiscated to organized crime. On this matter, FLARE will function as an expertise provider. Together with Serbia and Macedonia, Sweden represents a country in which the debate on the social reuse of criminal properties has already started.
ASSISI, ITALY – May 9
The second last event of “Season of Legality” was held in Assisi, one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. Here, “Tavola della Pace” - a panel of organizations and associations for promoting peace, rights and solidarity - held a two-day events with the aim of promoting a culture of peace and democracy worldwide among Italian young generations.
“Tavola della Pace” organizes once every two years the “Perugia-Assisi march”, the a 25 km walk at which tens of thousands of people participate. The “Perugia-Assisi march” is the largest peace demonstration in Italy.
FLARE brought nearly 50 network delegates to Assisi.
BARI, ITALY – May 11-12
The closing event of “Season of Legality” took place in Bari, Italy. The city of Bari has long become a national symbol for the fight against organized crime, especially on a non-repressive and social way. Over 600 are the properties confiscated to organized crime in the region of Puglia that are used now for social purposes.
In Bari “The camping of Legality” has seen the participation of 50 FLARE delegates and about 30 people from the north and the south of Italy. The event consisted of a conference participated by Milos Simonovic, mayor of Nis, Michele Emiliano, mayor of Bari, Luigi Ciotti, President of Libera, Guglielmo Minervini, regional councillor for transparency and active citizenship. The conference gave the possibility to draw outcomes of “Season of Legality”. Participants also visited two good examples of properties confiscated to organized crime and now used for social purposes, such as the “MomArt” in Torchiarolo and the cultivated land in Mesagne.
