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YouTubeUNODC commemorates Nelson Mandela International Day
In order to commemorate the Nelson Mandela International Day, the PANZ59 Project "Consolidating prison reform improvements in Panama", implemented by UNODC and with the support of the United States Embassy, organized jointly with the Ministry of Government of Panama, the Prison System and the Municipality of Chorrera, the inauguration of the "Nelson Mandela" park located in the prison of La Chorrera.
This park, which has a mural painted by a person deprived of liberty, is intended to pay tribute to the former President of South Africa, who spent 27 years in prison in the course of his struggle for global human rights, equality, democracy and the promotion of a culture of peace.
This activity was attended by the South African Ambassador, Sandile Nogxina, UNODC Regional Representative in Panama, Amado Philip de Andrés, General Director of the Prison Office, Etéreo Armando Medina Marín, and the Mayor of the District of La Chorrera, Tomás Velasquez, as well as prison staff and people deprived of their liberty.
Furthermore, the Prison Training Academy held a discussion and a film debate about Nelson Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Rules at its new headquarters in the district of Aguadulce, Panama, in addition to inaugurating a new videoconference room with the name of the former President of South Africa. There were also activities in most of the country's prisons to commemorate this day and reflect on the importance of the Nelson Mandela Rules.
On the other hand, as part of the activities to commemorate this day, UNODC, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Federal Prison Service of Argentina, organized a sub-regional workshop to address the practical application of the Nelson Mandela Rules. Different representatives of the penitentiary systems of Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Panama participated in the event held in Buenos Aires.
Prison staff shared experiences and good practices on internal and external inspection mechanisms, as mandated by the Nelson Mandela Rules. The UNODC experts who coordinated the workshop presented the "Checklist for assessing compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules" which will soon be available on this website.
During the workshop there were ministerial, prison and diplomatic authorities, as well as the Regional Representative of UNODC in Brazil. In addition, a visit to the prison of Ezeiza was conducted.
For more information on the Nelson Mandela Rules please visit:
