Nelson Mandela Rules

UNODC acts as the custodian of the international standards and norms in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including those specifically designed for the management of prison facilities and the treatment of prisoners, in particular the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).

The practical application of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) enables countries to strengthen prison management with a view to ensure the secure, safe and humane custody of prisoners. To fully address the challenges resulting from the global prison crisis, however, equal attention and investment must be given to:

Crime prevention, focusing in particular on persons at risk; Criminal policy reform to reduce over-incarceration, to promote the effective use of non-custodial sanctions, including evidence-based treatment and alternatives for drug- related offences; and strengthen access to legal aid;
Rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes for prisoners in the course of imprisonment and post-release support services upon release.

All of the above forms the core of UNODC's strategy to respond to global prison challenges and needs to be implemented in a coordinated manner in order to reach a sustainable and sustainable response to the current prison crisis in many Member States.

In addition to the Nelson Mandela Rules, the Programme's normative basis is therefore equally to be found in

OTHER CRUCIAL REFERENCE MATERIALS INCLUDE:

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

The Nelson Mandela Rules

Group of Friends of the Nelson Mandela Rules