The Sicilian Centre of Documentation () organizes research into the Mafia in Sicily and campaigns against it. The Centre was the first study centre on the Mafia in Italy.
The CentreâÂÂs purpose is defined in terms of four main points:
Umberto Santino and Anna Puglisi founded the Sicilian Centre of Documentation in 1977. Since then, the Centre has developed an archive dedicated to research into the Mafia. As a result, the centre has made research available to the public in form of information packs. The centre continues active in education about the Mafia and other criminal organizations by visiting schools and universities throughout Italy and the world. The Centre also organizes and initiates public demonstrations, and played a key role in the murder investigation of Giuseppe Impastato, murdered by the Mafia in May 1978. In ImpastatoâÂÂs honour, the Centre was renamed âÂÂThe Centre of Giuseppe Impastatoâ in 1980. In 1998, the Centre was renamed again to âÂÂThe Centre of Giuseppe Impastato â Non-profit Organization for Social VenuesâÂÂ.
This self-financed centre carries out activities that include the research of political, sociological, economic and historical data, as well as hosting conferences, exhibitions, and seminars. The centre also assists with the publication of informational pamphlets and books.
In 1979 the Centre organized the first anti-Mafia demonstration in Italian history. Over 2,000 demonstrators participated in this historic event. The Centre has also organized other demonstrations, which include peace movements, the protection of democratic participation and human rights.
Giuseppe Impastato (born 1948) was a political activist from Cinisi in Italy, murdered by the Mafia in 1978. Impastato campaigned against the Mafia by founding a journal titled âÂÂThe Socialist Ideaâ and a self-financed radio show, Radio Aut. A particular target of Impastato was Mafia leader Gaetano Badalamenti, who lived near Impastato's family home. On May 8âÂÂ9, 1978, Impastato was murdered. His body was discovered with a charge of TNT tied to a local railway line. At the time Impastato had been running for local elections under the Proletarian Democracy party. Despite his death just before the elections, Impastato was elected.
The Sicilian Centre for Documentation fought for years alongside Impastato's family to produce evidence against his murderers â the Mafia, led by Gaetano Badalamenti. Thanks to the CentreâÂÂs involvement, demonstrations and research, Badalamenti was convicted of ImpastatoâÂÂs murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2002.