Nelson Mandela International Day

 The President of the General Assembly will hold this high-level debate to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) Interactive Panel Discussion: "Prison and penal reform: The need for change" Continuation of the High-level segment The President of the General Assembly will hold a high-level debate on the theme "A second chance: addressing the global prison challenge" to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 78/229. The high-level debate will be an opportunity to  reiterate the importance of prison and penal reform, its impact on human rights and sustainable development, and its contribution to building safer communities and supporting the achievement...

   Ministerial-level Side-Event of the General Assembly High-level Debate on 'A second chance: Addressing the global prison challenge. The event will showcase the impact of prison reform initiatives pursued by UNODC, including through the lens of national counterparts. The event will also draw attention to persisting and emerging prison challenges an d contribute to enhanced awareness, preparedness and forward-looking action. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept Note . From Theory to Practice: Translating UN Standards on Prison and Offender Management into Action! Live

The President of the General Assembly will hold this high-level debate to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) Opening segment High-level segment The President of the General Assembly will hold a high-level debate on the theme "A second chance: addressing the global prison challenge" to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 78/229. The high-level debate will be an opportunity to reiterate the importance of prison and penal reform, its impact on human rights and sustainable development, and its contribution to building safer communities and supporting the achievement of the SDGs, in particular Goal 16. The high-level debate will also provide an opportunity to...

The treatment of prisoners matters . It matters because it impacts all of us – but above all it matters because prisoners are human beings . On Nelson Mandela International Day , join the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to call for the universal practical application of the Nelson Mandela Rules – because prisoners matter. Take part in the campaign!

As Mandela said: It is in your hands to make of the world a better place . And so, every year on Mandela Day, we ask people around the world to take action and inspire change by making a difference in their communities. If you would like to donate your own time to public service , here are some things you can do to take action and inspire change : Make a new friend. Get to know someone from a different cultural background. Only through mutual understanding can we rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia. Read to someone who can’t. Visit a local home for the blind and open up a new world for someone else. Help out at the local animal shelter. Dogs without homes still need a walk and a bit of love. Help someone get a job. Put together and print a CV for them, or help them with their interview skills. Many terminally ill people have no one to speak to. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives. Get tested for HIV and encourage your partner to do ...

The Nelson Mandela Rules represent the universally acknowledged blueprint for prison management in the 21st century. They outline minimum prison conditions, provide guidance, and set clear benchmarks for prison staff on how to uphold safety, security and human dignity. Find out more.

The Nelson Mandela Rules: Five facts. 1955 - First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime & the Treatment of Offenders. The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (PDF ), originally adopted by the First UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 1955, constitute the universally acknowledged minimum standards for the management of prison facilities and the treatment of prisoners, and have been of tremendous value and influence in the development of prison laws, policies and practices in Member States all over the world. 2011 - Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Group. In recognition of the advances in international law and correctional science since 1955, however, the General Assembly decided, in 2011, to establish an open-ended intergovernmental Expert Group to review and possibly revise the rules. Relevant UN bodies, other international and regional organisations, as well as civil society were invited to contribute to ...