South African President Cyril Ramaphosa inaugurated the Nelson Mandela Rules Training Academy on Wednesday. It is located at Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated before his release.
The center will serve as a place for learning, research, and knowledge sharing, and will contribute to shaping better prison practices. It will provide training in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.
“Nelson Mandela himself spent more than 27 years in prison and, throughout his life, remained a staunch advocate for fairness, justice, and the humane treatment of all, including those deprived of their liberty. His legacy lives on through the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, universally known as the Nelson Mandela Rules,” said Jane Marie Ong’olo, Regional Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
This is the first facility in Africa dedicated exclusively to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. These guidelines promote the dignity, fairness, and humane treatment of persons deprived of their liberty.
"I have been told that this is the first facility of its kind on the African continent. It will therefore serve as a knowledge center for our region, SADC, not only for our South African officials, but also for the global prison community," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The inauguration of the center coincided with the celebration of the 36th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release.
