Archive

UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules)

The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs) were initially adopted by the UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 1955, and approved by the UN Economic and Social Council in 1957.  The Nelson Mandela Rules: an animated introduction from Penal Reform International on Vimeo. […]

Key international standards and norms relating to the use of torture

These include: UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984) Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) (2002) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (1957) UN Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of […]

Key international standards for the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders

These include: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (1957) UN Minimum Rules for Administration of Juvenile Justice: the Beijing Rules (1985) UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (UN Bangkok Rules) (2010)

Key standards and norms on conditions in detention and the treatment of detainees, including health and solitary confinement

Key standards and norms covering conditions in detention and the treatment of detainees include: General International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights UN Convention on the Rights of the Child UN Convention against Torture UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UN Standard Minimum Rules for […]

Key international standards and norms relating to the use of pre-trial detention

These include: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (Article 9 and Article 14) Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (1988) UN Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems (2012) UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (the ‘Tokyo Rules’) […]

Key international standards, norms and guidelines relating to life imprisonment

These include: Life imprisonment, UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch’s Report (1994), UN Document ST/CSDHA/24 Eighth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (27 August – 7 September 1990), Resolution 20: Assessment for the release of life sentence prisoners, UN Document A/CONF.144/28/Rev.1 Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member […]

Key international standards and norms for the administration of justice for children

These include: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules) UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (Havana Rules) UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Rules) Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice […]