The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules, are a set of guidelines for the treatment of prisoners. They aim to set out what is generally accepted as being good principles and practice in the treatment of prisoners and prison management. Here are some key points of the Mandela Rules:
- Respect for Prisoners’ Inherent Dignity: Prisoners should be treated with respect for their inherent dignity and value as human beings.
- No Discrimination: There should be no discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.
- Separation of Categories: Different categories of prisoners (e.g., male and female, adults and juveniles, sentenced and untried) should be kept in separate institutions or parts of institutions.
- Accommodation: The accommodation should meet all requirements of health, with attention to climatic conditions, cubic content of air, minimum floor space, lighting, heating, and ventilation.
- Personal Hygiene: Prisoners should be provided with water and the necessary toiletries to keep themselves clean.
- Clothing and Bedding: Prisoners should be provided with suitable clothing and bedding, appropriate for the climate and sufficient to keep them in good health.
- Food: Prisoners should be provided with food of nutritional value adequate for health and strength, of wholesome quality, and well-prepared and served.
- Exercise and Sport: Every prisoner who is not employed in outdoor work should have at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily if the weather permits.
- Medical Services: Prisoners should have access to necessary healthcare services, including psychiatric care. There should be at least one qualified medical officer with knowledge of psychiatry in every institution.
- Discipline and Punishment: Discipline and order should be maintained with no more restriction than is necessary for safe custody and well-ordered community life. Corporal punishment, punishment by placing in a dark cell, and all cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishments should be completely prohibited.
- Contact with the Outside World: Prisoners should be allowed, under necessary supervision, to communicate with their family and reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits.
- Complaints: Prisoners should have the right to make requests or complaints to the director of the institution or other authorities.
- Inspection: Qualified inspectors should conduct regular inspections of penal institutions to ensure compliance with the rules and standards.
The full text of the Mandela Rules is detailed and comprehensive, covering many aspects of prison administration and the treatment of prisoners. For a complete understanding, you can access the full document on the official United Nations website or through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
You can access the full text of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules, through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Here is the direct link to the PDF document containing the complete rules: Mandela Rules PDF