PRI to co-host side-event on the Mandela Rules at the UN General Assembly, October 2015
On 19 October, PRI will be co-hosting a side-event on the Implementation of the revised UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners – the Mandela Rules at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly currently underway in New York.
After four years of negotiations, the revised Rules have been put forward for final approval by the UN General Assembly. Their revision – and the adoption of the revised text – is historic, marking as it does the updating of the key set of standards for the treatment of prisoners and prison conditions, and consolidating human rights and criminal justice standards in one single document.
The event will be co-hosted with the Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York, the Anti-Torture Initiative (Washington College of Law), the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Time: Monday 19 October, 3-5pm, with an informal catered reception from 4.30pm.
Location: Conference Room 8, UN Headquarters, New York.
The expert panel, moderated by Andrea Huber (PRI), will include:
Welcome & Introduction
Jürg Lauber, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Switzerland at the UN in New York
Summary of the review process
Matteo Pasquali, United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime
Prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
Juan E. Méndez, Special Rapporteur on Torture
Rules relating to health-care
Stefan Enggist, World Health Organization
Investigations, complaints and legal representation
Jamil Dakwar, American Civil Liberties Union
Inspection and prisoner file system
Malcolm Evans, Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
Questions & Answers
Concluding remarks
Brooke Darby, US Department of State
Please note: If access to the UN premises is required, please contact ahuber@penalreform.org before 12 October 2015.