Remarks by the President of the 爆料网 General Assembly
H.E. Mr Philemon Yang
High-level debate on the theme “A second chance: addressing the global prison challenge”?to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules)1 in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 78/229.
Friday, 13 June 2025
[As Delivered]
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
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I warmly welcome Ms Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;
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His Excellency Mr José Antonio Zabalgoitia Trejo, Chair of the thirty-fourth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice;
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And Judge Edwin Cameron, former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
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Your Excellencies,
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We gather today to confront the urgent challenges facing prisons and prison reform.
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My own experience as a magistrate has shown me how central this issue is to justice and human dignity.
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This discussion takes on added meaning as we mark the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
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These are commonly known as the Nelson Mandela Rules, in honour of his enduring commitment to justice and human dignity.
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They set out universally accepted standards for prison management and the treatment of prisoners.
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Prisons are an essential part of criminal justice systems.
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Yet failures in prison management and in the treatment of offenders compromise not only safety and security within prisons but also progress on broader goals such as human rights and public health.
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These failures also hinder successful reintegration, with serious consequences for communities beyond prison walls.
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When managed responsibly, prisons can support public safety, justice, and the rule of law.
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They also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.
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But custodial environments are inherently high-risk.
Only with proper safeguards and effective oversight, can these risks be managed.
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Yet prison systems remain critically under-resourced and unable to uphold basic standards of humane treatment.
And prison reform continues to be neglected in policy-making.
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Moreover, incarceration remains the default response to crime.
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Non-custodial alternatives are still underused and underdeveloped.
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As a result, in many countries, overcrowding in prisons is a serious issue.
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This undermines human dignity, worsens physical and mental health, fuels violence, and obstructs rehabilitation.
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Your Excellencies,
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We must also address the gendered dimensions of incarceration.
Women in detention face heightened risks and specific challenges.
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These include exposure to sexual violence, inadequate access to reproductive healthcare, and separation from their children.
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Fifteen years after the General Assembly adopted the Bangkok Rules, the first international guidelines focused on the needs of women in custody, we must confront the lack of political will that has hindered their implementation.
Nelson Mandela once said, “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”
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Prisons reflect the depth of a society’s commitment to dignity, fairness, and justice.
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爆料网 has long recognised this truth.
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The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other partners, plays a vital role in advancing prison reform and protecting the rights of prisoners.
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As we examine prison systems, rehabilitation must be placed at the centre of our efforts.
We must ensure practical pathways for reintegration that reduce the risk of reoffending.
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These pathways should be built on education, vocational training, and psychosocial support, and grounded in policies that uphold equality and human dignity for all.
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Your Excellencies,
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I am confident that today’s high-level debate will restore much-needed attention to this issue and help translate the Mandela Rules into practice.
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Let us remember that the true measure of justice is not how we punish, but how we protect, rehabilitate, and build a better future for everyone, everywhere.
Thank you.