Introduction to the Nelson Mandela Rules: Training course for Italian prison staff
When
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Organized by
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is organizing a training course from 10 to 14 October 2022 in Castiglione delle Stiviere to introduce Italian prison staff to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules). The training is organized in partnership with the Italian Department of Penitentiary Administration.
The course is designed to help prison staff understand and implement the Nelson Mandela Rules in practice and improve attitudes and behaviours to better protect the human rights of people in prison, while ensuring good prison management. It is hoped this will help to:
- protect the rights and dignity of all people in prison;
- create a safer, more positive working environment for prison staff and enable better staff-detainee relations;
- facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, thereby reducing recidivism and protecting society against crime;
- increase public trust in the fairness and effectiveness of the prison system.
The training is part of ODIHR’s work to strengthen the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment in places of detention across the OSCE region. The course is based on the training program “Introduction to the Nelson Mandela Rules” developed by ODIHR and Penal Reform International (PRI) in partnership with the Swedish Prison and Probation Service and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).
This training is not open for public participation.
Background
In December 2020, OSCE participating States reaffirmed that all persons deprived of their liberty will be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. Participating States also recognized the importance of continuously taking appropriate measures to improve conditions in detention to better respect the human rights and dignity of those persons, including by taking into consideration the implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules or similar standards.
Prison staff play an essential role in ensuring that the human rights of people in prison are respected and upheld. The Nelson Mandela Rules are the key international standard governing the treatment of prisoners. They provide greater protection for persons deprived of liberty, as well as guidance to penitentiary staff, prison administrations, monitoring bodies and relevant policymakers.