Home Minister: Implementation of Nelson Mandela Rules will reform prisons

Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla said on Saturday that the implementation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules, will reform many of the issues within the prison system.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners was named the Nelson Mandela Rules in honor the legacy of the late South African president Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison in the course of his struggle to end apartheid.

Imran made the remark at the inauguration of a workshop held by Home Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), to mark Nelson Mandela International Day, this Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Imran reaffirmed the Maldivian government’s commitment towards improving the conditions of prisons.

He said the government will make it a priority to establish international standard resources at prisons, and provide international standard services to prisoners.

Imran said it will include reforming the health facilities, the behavior of prisoners, communications, and conflict resolution.

He said the Nelson Mandela Rules will support the government’s efforts to bring reform by ensuring the protection of the rights of prisoners.

The Maldivian government released the Dhivehi translation of the Nelson Mandela Rules earlier this Saturday.

Imran said that now was an opportune time press prison reforms with confidence. He also described the publication of the Dhivehi translation of the Nelson Mandela Rules as a boost to the efforts to ensure peace, democracy and human rights through prison reforms.

Imran noted that it is the first time for Maldives to mark the Nelson Mandela International Day, and said he was pleased to have the Dhivehi translation of the Nelson Mandela Rules published on the very same day.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners or the Nelson Mandela Rules was revised in 2015.