UNICRI United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute	Italian Medicines Agency GCP Promotion Unit, GCP and Pharmacovigilance Inspectorate

In the era of globalization, the spread of biomedical research with human subjects poses challenges at various various levels. The growing number of clinical trials conducted in developing settings,in Latin America, Africa and Asia requires total commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the correct application of internationally recognized Good Clinical Practices and adherence to the internationally recognized principles of ethics, human rights and justice.

In recent years, UNICRI, in collaboration with AIFA - the Italian Medicines Agency - has investigated the ethical and legal issues surrounding the conduct of clinical trials with human participants in developing countries, with particular regard to its criminal implications, such as the risks of fraudulent behavior, non compliance with the standards of ethical reviews and the lack of control on the quality of drugs and/or of the established protocols. In order to contribute to the creation of effective control mechanisms in this field, UNICRI and AIFA conducted a survey on the legislative framework related to the protection of participants in biomedical research. They also investigated the training, educational and capacity building activities carried out in the 53 African States which support the work of Ethical Review Boards and Inspectorates.

Deeply rooted in the Millennium Development Goals core objectives, UNICRI's policy of action-oriented research supports governments and the international community at large in strengthening human rights protection and the rule of law and tackling the threats that posed by crime to development and stability.

UNICRI believes that a proper legislative framework; its correct application; and adequate ethics training for professionals involved in research with human beings, are all key factors to ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights, safety and the well being of research participants all around the world.

Contacts

For further information please contact cteunicri.org

Through the IPPW Directory you can find the address of relevant Institutions dedicated to Probation.

The IPPW on-line publications offers a collection of specialized data and documents from public and private institutions (in Word and/or PDF formats) as well as links to specialized libraries and documentation centres.

Through its major online library, with more than 19.000 monographs, 1.250 journals and yearbooks, tens of thousands documents by the United Nations System, the Centre is an asset to research, training and field activities.

The rich collections of print and electronic resources are continuously updated and expanded to ensure access to the latest data, research and analysis.

Click here to consult the UNICRI Libray catalogue.

UNICRI Liaison Office in Rome

In 2000, while UNICRI HQs moved to Turin, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and FAO to keep a UNICRI Liaison Office in Rome.

The UNICRI Liaison Office in Rome became operational from 1 May 2000. Since January 2004, following an agreement with the UN Department of Public Information and the Italian Government, the UNICRI Liaison Office in Rome also backstops the Brussels-based UN Regional Information Centre for Europe (UNRIC).

The UNICRI Liaison Office promotes UN objectives and activities at national level, in constant coordination with Brussels. To this end, the Office supports UNRIC in the relations with public and private institutions, the civil society and the media.

The UNICRI Rome Office is open to the public for the consultation of UN documents and information materials, including most recent releases.

The Liaison Office also closely collaborates with SIOI (Italian U.N. Association) in the organization of events, seminars and press conferences.

UNICRI provides sustainable and tailored capacity-building support to Member States, partners, and communities, with the objective of strengthening institutions and civil society. Rooted in an evidence-based and interdisciplinary approach, these efforts enhance national and local capacities in the areas of crime prevention, justice, and security.

Drawing on a broad network of experts and strategic partners, the Institute delivers both rapid-response training to address urgent needs and longer-term support to build resilience and lasting competence. This dual approach enables flexible, context-specific interventions that are responsive to evolving priorities and threats.

UNICRI offers a wide portfolio of educational and capacity-building programmes for criminal justice practitioners, law enforcement officials, policymakers, and post-graduate students. These include:
– tailored and specialised training courses;
– simulation-based exercises and Training of Trainers (TTT);
– workshops at national, regional, and international levels;
– Master’s programmes, hybrid learning opportunities, and e-learning modules.

Over the years, UNICRI has strengthened its training capabilities by developing national and regional curricula, modular content, and manuals for both trainers and trainees. Pilot courses have targeted law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and social workers, covering both foundational and advanced topics relevant to their professional roles.

UNICRI’s thematic areas reflect the complexity of today’s security landscape and the need for specialised, forward-looking responses. Its capacity-building activities address:
– justice reform;
– anti-corruption and asset recovery;
– the responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies;
– mitigation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks;
– cybercrime and cybersecurity, including online child abuse;
– counter-terrorism and violent extremism;
– the nexus between organised crime and terrorism;
– community-level resilience and the protection of vulnerable groups, including migrants;
– trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants;
– crimes against the environment and illicit exploitation of natural resources;
– protection of cultural heritage;
– counterfeiting and the trafficking of cultural goods;
– reform of penitentiary systems, including crisis management, probation, and green and digital prisons.

UNICRI’s models are participatory, practice-oriented, and adapted to local realities. Training initiatives are co-designed with stakeholders, grounded in real-world scenarios, and aimed at delivering scalable, impact-driven solutions.

Working in close collaboration with Member States, UN entities, nationa, regional and international organisations, civil society, academia, and the private sector, UNICRI fosters integrated, multi-stakeholder ecosystems. These partnerships promote shared ownership, strengthen institutional coordination, and improve cross-border cooperation, while reducing duplication and optimising the cost-effectiveness of interventions.

As a trusted provider of technical assistance, training, and policy guidance, UNICRI contributes to the development of effective, evidence-based strategies that support justice, enhance institutional resilience, and advance peace, security, and development.