Tools to implement revised UN prison rules focus of OSCE/ODIHR and PRI side event at UN Crime Commission meeting
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Penal Reform International (PRI) provided information about tools to promote and implement the revised UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) at a joint side-event on the margins of the 26th Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna on 26 May 2017.
"PRI has been heavily involved in the process that resulted in the adoption of the Nelson Mandela Rules, and it is encouraging to see how international standards can inspire reform. Many countries have indeed started to assess their prison rules against the new Rules," says Andrea Huber, Policy Director of Penal Reform International.
While underlining the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment, the revised Rules include up-to-date standards on issues related to daily life in prison. Since their adoption, prison administrations can now go to one reliable and authoritative source for information on good prison management.
Muriel Jourdan-Ethvignot, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer of the UNODC said: "The adoption of the Nelson Mandela Rules constituted a milestone in the normative framework related to prison management and the treatment of prisoners. My Office assumes a particularly important role in ensuring the development of guidance material regarding the Rules and the provision of related technical advisory services”.
“Together with PRI, ODIHR is in the process of developing a guidance document on the implementation of the revised Rules, a practical tool for penitentiary staff, prison administrations, monitoring bodies and relevant policy-makers from the OSCE region aiming to improve penal systems and the treatment of prisoners in the OSCE region,” said Stephanie Selg, ODIHR Adviser on Torture Prevention.
All three organizations underlined the importance of co-ordination and co-operation among international organizations and NGOs to ensure the effective implementation of the revised Rules.