Podcast: introduction to the ‘Mandela Rules’ with Andrea Huber

On 22 May 2015, at the UN Crime Commission in Vienna, states agreed on a new set of prison standards – a new and updated version of the well-known and well-used Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMR).

Andrea Huber, PRI’s Policy Director, was involved in the revision process and was present in Vienna when the resolution containing the new text was adopted. In this podcast, she explains why the Rules needed to be revised and what the changes could mean for prisoners, prison staff and for prison management.

Length: 20 mins.

Read the text of the Resolution. See also a version showing the substantive revisions.

Read about the revision process.

Read a blog by Professor Sir Nigel Rodley setting out the changes to the existing provisions and why the revisions will be so significant.