About the Resource
This open-access resource provides university lecturers and trainers with materials for teaching about international prison standards, human rights and professional practice in correctional settings. It introduces the historical development and significance of these standards and examines their role in improving prison conditions, protecting the rights of incarcerated people and supporting rehabilitation.
Particular attention is given to the Nelson Mandela Rules, the Tokyo Rules and the Bangkok Rules, including their application to practical situations. The resource also explores the multifaceted role of prison social workers, the diverse needs of incarcerated people, and the ethical challenges and value dilemmas encountered by professionals working in correctional institutions.
The materials are suitable for courses in social work, healthcare, law, criminal justice, human rights and public policy. Lecturers and trainers can select, download and adapt the available content, presentations, case studies and discussion questions for their own courses, seminars and workshops.
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1.1
Social work within the criminal justice system
ReadingThese materials will help participants to:
- Learn about the challenges that face social workers working in prison.
- Describe the role of social workers within the criminal justice system.
- Identify key activities of social workers within the criminal justice system.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 1
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1.2
Social workers task in prison
Reading
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2.1
What are the Nelson Mandela Rules?
ReadingThese materials will help participants to understand what are the Nelson Mandela Rules and what are they focus on.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 2
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2.2
The key elements of Nelson Mandela’s rules
Reading
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3.1
What are the Tokyo Rules?
ReadingThese materials will help participants to understand what are the Tokyo Rules and what are they focus on.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 3
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3.2
Key principles of the Tokyo Rules
Reading
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4.1
What are the Bangkok Rules?
ReadingThese materials will help participants to understand what are the Bangkok Rules and why these rules are important in the context of the treatment of women.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 4
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4.2
Bangkok Rules topics
Reading
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5.1
Preventing and prohibiting torture
ReadingThese materials will help participants to understand:
- How we define torture?
- The role of Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in preventing torture.
- The role of The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in preventing torture.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 5
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5.2
OPCAT
Reading
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6.1
Mechanism for monitoring prison conditions
ReadingThese materials will help participants to understand the role of the The National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in preventing torture and the relationship between National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) and Civil Society Organizations.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 6
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6.2
National Preventive Mechanism and civil society organisations
Reading
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7.1
Why NGOs are important?
ReadingThese materials will help participants to:
- Describe why non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are important for the promotion of International Prison Standards.
- Provide examples of actions of NGOs to promote the standards.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 7
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7.2
Country examples
Reading
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8.1
The United Nations and the promotion of international prison standards
ReadingThese materials will help participants to:
- Describe how the United Nations (UN) is engaged in the promotion of international prison standards.
- Provide examples of agencies and organisations involved in the promotion of international prison standards within the UN.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 8
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8.2
How United Nations promote international prison standards?
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8.3
The key UN agencies involved in International Standard Promotion
Reading
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9.1
Restriction of solitary confinement
ReadingThese materials will help participants to understand why solitary confinement is a form of torture.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 9
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10.1
Response to prison overcrowding
ReadingThese materials will help participants to:
- Describe Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMR).
- Explain how prison overcrowding impacts the physical and mental health of the prisoners.
- Explain what measures can be taken to reduce overcrowding.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 10
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10.2
Impact of overcrowding
Reading
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11.1
Improving prisoner health
ReadingThese materials will help participants to:
- Describe the problems related to prisoners' health.
- Describe the guidelines, regulations, and standards addressing Prisoners' physical and mental health.
- Explain what measures can be taken to reduce overcrowding.
- Explain how prisoners' health could be improved.
- Describe the role of the WHO Prison Health Framework.
Download this Module for use offline or for other devices in PDF format: Module 11
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11.2
Harm reduction in prison
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11.3
How to improve prison health?
Reading
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12.1
Resources on International Prison Standards
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12.2
Questions for discussion
Reading