On 14 December 1994, press agencies launched this news statement: “Libera is born, a cartel of associations against the Mafia.” The idea, announced by Don Luigi Ciotti, founder of Gruppo Abele, attrac
Among these groups and associations were Arci, Acli, Legambiente, Fuci, Gruppo Abele, and Cgil. Each association has its own unique history and identity, but all share the awareness that opposing mafias is a political, social, cultural and ethical task that concerns the whole of civil society. Don Ciotti not only announced the birth of Libera on 14 December 1994 but also launched a public petition to collect a million signatures to ensure that assets confiscated from mafia members and corrupt individuals are put to social use. This initiative captured the interest of the political and social sector and brought attention to this newly formed association. Libera was thus born with a clear, well-defined path and mission. In the months that followed, meetings and debates continued to outline the association’s profile, a process that, on 25 March 1995, would lead to the approval of Libera Articles of Association and its official establishment at the Cgil headquarters in Rome, on Via dei Frentani. On this day, Don Ciotti was appointed national president of Libera.
The first issue of the Narcomafie magazine is published by Gruppo Abele.
A press conference is held in Rome by the newly formed Libera Association, featuring Don Luigi Ciotti and the presidents of the main national associations. The petition is launched with a collection of signatures calling for the social use of assets confiscated from mafias.
The first edition of the national anti-mafia caravan is published by ARCI.
On 25 March, the association is formally established as Libera: associations, names, and numbers against mafias.
An anti-mafia training camp takes place in Manduria (Ta).
The public petition bill, promoted by Libera, with more than one million signatures collected, is approved in Parliament and becomes Law 109/96 - Provision on the management and destination of confiscated and seized assets.
The first Day of Remembrance and Commitment in memory of the mafias’ innocent victims is held in Rome.
Avviso Pubblico: Local Authorities and Regions for civil training against mafia, is established.
Libera hosts a public hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels as part of the Resolution on the action plan against organised crime, which is then adopted in November.
LaviaLibera is born, a semi-annual periodical of Libera, managed by Gianmario Missaglia, former president of Uisp.
Libera participates in the First UN World Conference against Organized Crime in Palermo.
The first Libera Terra Cooperative, dedicated to Placido Rizzotto, is established following a public tender in Sicily.
The “Race for Peace and Rights”, promoted by Libera, spans 25 Italian cities and also some foreign cities such as Buenos Aires, Kabul, Baghdad, and Grand Bassam and the Ivory Coast.
The first Albachiara Campus in Montecatini Terme (PT) is promoted by Gruppo Abele and Libera.
A building confiscated from the Magliana gang in via IV novembre in Rome is assigned to Libera and becomes the association’s national headquarters.
In Turin, the first agreement is signed between Libera and an Italian university for the addition of two master’s degrees regarding mafia crime.
The first volunteer and training camps on confiscated land organized by Libera and Legambiente leave for Sicily and Calabria as “I campi della legalità - Progetto Libera Terra” (Fields of Legality - Libera Terra Project).
“Cooperare con Libera Terra Agency” is established.
“Libero Cinema in Libera Terra” (Free Cinema in a Free Land), a project to organise cinema screenings and collective viewing sites on land confiscated from mafias, is established.
The first edition of the Regoliamoci Prize Contest, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, University, and Research, is held.
The first edition of Contromafie, the Conference on the State of Antimafia, takes place in Rome.
The first edition of “Abitare i margini”, a training programme for teachers on citizenship education, is held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The Libera Information Foundation is founded.
The Consorzio Libera Terra Mediterraneo is founded.
Following an amendment to its Articles of Association, Libera can now participate in civil proceedings during mafia trials.
The second edition of Contromafie, the Anti-Mafia Assembly, is held in Rome.
ALAS - America Latina Alternativa Social network is created.
Launch of the 'Corrotti' campaign and collection of signatures for the confiscation and social re-use of assets confiscated from corruption.
In Reggio Calabria, the first solidarity network against protection money is created, ReggioLiberaReggio.
“Amunì”, a project promoted by Libera with the Department of Juvenile Justice, is created.
Libera launches three important campaigns: 'Illuminiamo la salute' (Let's shed light on health), 'Io riattivo il lavoro' (I’ll get back to work) and 'Miseria ladra' (an Italian expression and pun on the concept that misery steals opportunities).
Pope Francis meets with mafia victims’ family members in the church of San Gregorio VII in Rome.
Venti Liberi: vent'anni Libera (Free Winds: twenty years of Libera) is celebrated.
Mexico City hosts the first assembly of ALAS (Latin America Alternative Social), the international network of Latin American associations and organizations that aim to combat organized crime and corruption.
Libera holds a press conference with Alex Schwazer and Sandro Donati to present the proposal for the athlete’s return to the sport following the end of his suspension.
In Locri (Rc), the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, meets with mafia victims’ family members on the Day of Remembrance and Commitment.
Vivi, a multimedia archive where all the known stories of the mafias’ innocent victims are collected, is created.
With social research on mafia perception and corruption, the Liberaidee campaign kicks off a journey to raise awareness and renew civic engagement. The new Libera website is created.
The Liberi di Scegliere (Free to Choose) agreement is signed in Rome with the aim to help and welcome women and children who want to leave the mafia circuit.
The seventh meeting of Libera Youth takes place in Trappeto (PA).
Linea Libera is launched, a free and confidential telephone service for reporting corrupt or mafia-related conduct.
The Liberaidee report on the perception and presence of mafias and corruption in Italy is presented in Rome.
The XXIV Day of Remembrance and Commitment in memory of the innocent victims of the mafia takes place in Padua, and simultaneously in thousands of places in Italy, Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Lavialibera, pensieri nuove e parole diverse, is created, the new editorial project founded by Libera and Gruppo Abele.
CHANCE, Civil Hub Against orgaNised Crime in Europe, is launched, establishing a social network united by a shared commitment to work with Libera for social justice.
Families of innocent victims of the mafia gather in Piazza Montecitorio, in Rome and present the “Diritti Vivi” manifesto.
Libera organizes an international event in Palermo titled Cross - Civil society and the fight against global mafias. The event hosts a multidisciplinary discussion on the progress made during the last 23 years since the UN Palermo Convention.
PLACE (a Libera network in Africa) holds its first meeting in the Ivory Coast.
Extralibera opens its doors to the public, offering a centre of innovation and multimedia storytelling to recount the realities of the mafia, anti-mafia measures, and remember the innocent victims of mafia violence.
The National Assembly of Libera is held, and Luigi Ciotti and Francesca Rispoli are elected as the presidents of Libera.
