On May 18, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Méndez called for the adoption of the revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, proposed for adoption as the “Mandela Rules,” in an open letter to the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The revised Rules would provide detainees with increased protection from torture and other ill-treatment and recognize the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

“The adoption and implementation of these rules reinforces human rights principles and provides greater protection for persons deprived of their liberty, updated procedural safeguards, and more effective guidance to national prison administrations,” – Special Rapporteur Méndez