ODIHR, Penal Reform International present new publication on implementing UN rules for treatment of prisoners

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Penal Reform International (PRI) presented their new publication on implementing the revised United Nations rules for the treatment of prisoners at an event in Warsaw on 11 September 2018. The presentation took place on the margins of the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

The practical tool, Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela Rules – Implementing the United Nations revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, is designed to assist OSCE participating States in improving conditions of detention and the treatment of prisoners, with a focus on preventing torture and other ill-treatment.

“The effective implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules in all 57 OSCE participating States will mark a considerable achievement for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” said Stephanie Selg, ODIHR Adviser on Torture Prevention. “We are convinced that this publication will assist prison administrations, penitentiary staff, monitoring bodies and policymakers in implementing standards for the treatment of prisoners and ensuring human dignity for all.”

The Guidance Document incorporates existing international legal standards and practical tools, “soft law” principles and opinions of authoritative bodies, as well as promising national practice examples that provide guidance for the interpretation and effective implementation of the revised Rules.

During the event, ODIHR and PRI representatives, prison administration officials and monitoring experts discussed experiences in implementing the Rules and shared examples of how prison administrations and staff may benefit from the Guidance Document, which is designed to complement other available implementation tools.