Distinguished Director of UNODC in New York, Ms. Delphine Schantz,
Distinguished UN Representatives,
Dear Ambassadors and colleagues, media representatives, friends,
I am pleased to welcome you all today to the inauguration of this exhibit, which tells a very unique story: the story of Italy’s experience in the fight against transational organized crime and of the international cooperation Italy has promoted in this sector.
In every story there is always a “what”, a “when”, a “where”, a “who”, and a “why”. Let me start from here.
The “what” is the unprecedented success of the work of two Italian Judges, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, in fighting against the Italian mafias, boosting international cooperation in this field, and thus in paving the way to the adoption of the Palermo Convention with the General Assembly resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000. As former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: “The Convention is a new tool to address the scourge of crime as a global problem […] If crime crosses borders, so must law enforcement”.
As to the “when”, the narration starts in the mid 80s, when the maxi-trial against the mafia organization “Cosa Nostra” was held, and covers the events that unfolded all the way until present time. Because regardless of the progress made, organized crime is still alive and the need for our cooperation is still urgent. The two bombing attacks where Judge Falcone and Borsellino were assassinated, together with Falcone’s wife and 8 police escort agents, are among the darkest moments in Italy’s recent history. But those brutal explosions didn’t just end their lives: they also set revolutionary change into motion, marking a breakthrough in the fight against organized crime, and making our determination even stronger. The investigative approach created by the two judges, the so-called “Falcone Method”, did not die with them. This technique is based on an simple rule: follow the money. Today still, monitoring the financial flows allows law enforcement agencies to track criminal activities and identify the links between criminal organizations and businesses.
The “where”, is simply “everywhere”. Transnational organized crime knows no borders, and no State is immune to it. This is why the Palermo Convention has 192 parties, nearly the totality of the world’s countries.
The “who” is not only Judges Falcone and Borsellino, but also all the victims of organized crime and all those who, with courage and unwavering tenacity, have dedicated their life to or sacrificed it for this cause. Today we pay tribute to them, celebrating their memory and legacy.
Let me conclude with the “why”. This exhibit was designed and put together specifically for the UN, when in March 2024, thanks to a strong push from Italy, Austria, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, Peru, and Saudi Arabia, the General Assembly declared 15 November the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime.
This very first International Day sends a clear message: the spirit of the Palermo Convention will never die, like the enduring legacy of Judges Falcone and Borsellino, which today brought us here together. They are warriors, they are heroes, but above all they are the epitome of courage, self-denial and service to the State. These sentiments continue to live within these very walls, inside judicial and investigative institutions, bus also within civil society. Citizens’ associations have played a central role in promoting a culture of legality and in supporting the fight against organized crime, mobilizing schools, young people and entire communities.
Like Judge Falcone used to say: “Men pass, ideas last. Their ethical values endure and will continue to walk on the legs of other men”.
Thank you, and enjoy your visit.
