The Nelson Mandela Rules: The Revised United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners - Short Review
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Aleksandra Gruevska Drakulevski*
THE NELSON MANDELA RULES: THE REVISED UNITED NATIONS
STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF
PRISONERS - SHORT REVIEW
It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.
A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Abstract
The author of the paper provides a brief review of the structure of the new 'Nelson Mandela Rules' - The
Revised United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners with the emphasizes of the
most important revisions and amendments of the previous United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners from 1955.The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted in
1955, and constitute since then the universally acknowledged minimum standards for the management of prison
facilities and the treatment of prisoners. The Rules were revised in nine substantive areas to reflect standards
that have emerged in correctional science and human rights since 1955, which are now called the Nelson
Mandela Rules. This designation was made to honor the legacy of the late President of South Africa, Nelson
Rolihlahla Mandela, 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.These rules represent an updated blueprint for prison
management in the 21st century which upholds and promotes prisoners' dignity.
Key words: prison, right of prisoners, Nelson Mandela, standard minimal rules, treatment,
United Nations.
I. INTRODUCTION
The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs) were adopted in
1955, and constitute since then 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. 1/2
Considering the advances in international law and correctional science, the UN
General Assembly decided, in 2011, to establish an open-ended intergovernmental Expert
Group to review and possibly revise the SMRs. After an analysis process that involved five
years of intense work by government experts, civil society and academics, the UN General
* Aleksandra Gruevska Drakulevski, PhD., Associate Professor at University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty
of Law Iustinianus Primus, , Institute of Criminal Law, Department of Criminology and Penology.
E-mail: aleksandra gruevskadraku.evski @yahoocom.
'https://www.unodc.org/ropan/en/PrisonReform/the-nelson-mandela-rules--an-updated-guide-for-prison-
management-in-line-with-human-rights.html
https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Brochure-ontheUNSMRs.pdf Accessed on
10.5.2017.
2 Arnaudovski, Lj. and Gruevska Drakulevski, A. (2011) Law on Execution of Sanctions: integral text with an
introduction, brief explanations and registry of terms with appendix, Skopje: Studiorum - Center for Regional
Studies and Cooperation. [ApHayJoBcKH, J. H FpyencKa-J[paKyencBCKH A. (2011) ,, 3aKOH 3a H3BpmffyBaH>C Ha
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The Nelson Mandela Rules: The Revised United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners - Short Review
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