Italy's Liberi di scegliere project protects 200 youths from mafia

Approximately 200 young people have already benefited from the ‘Liberi di scegliere’ (Free to Choose) project, an initiative that has now been enacted into national law. The project was originally conceived by Roberto Di Bella, president of the Juvenile Court of Catania, to protect minors from being recruited by organized crime.

During a meeting in Biancavilla, Chiara Colosimo, president of the Parliamentary Antimafia Commission, stated that the new law could potentially remove about 400 minors from the influence of mafia organizations. This is viewed as a significant way to weaken criminal structures in regions such as Sicily, Campania, and Calabria.

Judge Di Bella noted that the project focuses on education and legality rather than just removal from family environments. In extreme cases, minors are separated from criminal contexts, but the program often involves supporting the entire family unit with educators and psychologists. Di Bella also highlighted that the project has influenced high-level criminals, including one top boss who repented following interventions involving his relatives.