The United Nations plays a crucial role in establishing global standards for all forms of deprivation of liberty. Through committees, conventions, and monitoring bodies, like the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), the UN works to ensure the humane treatment of people deprived of their liberty worldwide. These mechanisms, alongside frameworks such as the Nelson Mandela Rules and specialized guidelines for women and young people, form a robust international system designed to protect the human rights and dignity of all persons deprived of their liberty.
These human rights standards provide a strong support base for RESCALED’s innovative approach to detention, reinforcing the core principles of detention houses: small-scale, differentiation, community integration, and the ecosystem perspective. The ecosystem perspective recognizes the complex interconnections and shared responsibility between the justice system and other social systems, like healthcare, education, and employment, in supporting both detention facilities and the broader communities they serve.
Small-scale: The Nelson Mandela Rules explicitly state that the number of people in detention should not hinder individualized treatment (Rule 89.3), while the Havana Rules directly call for small-scale detention facilities integrated into communities (Rule 30). Research shows that positive relationships in detention facilities increase well-being while reducing violence, disorder and self-harm1, and higher quality of life during detention has been linked to reduced reoffending after release2.
Differentiation: Multiple UN instruments mandate individualized approaches. The Nelson Mandela Rules emphasize that prisons “do not need to provide the same degree of security for every group” (Rule 89.2), while the Bangkok Rules, Beijing Rules, and Havana Rules establish specific requirements for women and young people based on their unique needs.
Community integration: The Nelson Mandela Rules emphasize people’s continuing role in the community (Rule 88.1), the Bangkok Rules require women’s facilities to be close to their homes (Rule 4), and the Havana Rules specify that detention facilities should be decentralized and integrated into community environments (Rule 30).
The ecosystem perspective: UN instruments increasingly recognize that detention cannot be viewed in isolation. The UN Special Rapporteur’s report (A/HRC/57/46)3 emphasizes multi-sector collaboration, while the Bangkok Rules, Tokyo Rules, and Nelson Mandela Rules all highlight how community systems contribute to rehabilitation and reintegration.
From guidelines to action
The need for change is increasingly recognized internationally. The 2021 UN System Common Position on Incarceration4 explicitly establishes “reducing the overreliance on incarceration” as a primary objective. With global prison populations exceeding 11 million people and having increased by 25% since 2000, the document emphasizes that “incarceration should be used as a last resort.”
5Recent policy developments demonstrate concrete progress. The 2024 European Council Conclusions on Small-scale Detention, unanimously approved by all 27 EU Ministers for Justice, specifically recognize that “small-scale detention can improve both the working conditions for staff and the quality of life of detained persons.” Similarly, UN Resolution 57/9 on “Social reintegration of persons released from detention and persons subjected to non-custodial measures”6 encourages member states to consider introducing “appropriate alternatives to traditional incarceration, including small-scale detention centres.”
However, significant work remains to bridge the gap between policy frameworks and practical implementation, precisely what RESCALED is working to achieve across Europe. While UN standards establish minimum requirements for dignity and humane treatment, they often lack specific guidance on implementation. RESCALED goes beyond these baseline standards by providing a comprehensive, actionable framework demonstrating how detention houses can transform detention from isolation into meaningful opportunity.
The path forward
When implemented effectively, this approach benefits everyone: people in detention are treated with dignity and have real opportunities to rebuild their lives; families can stay connected; communities take shared responsibility for safer neighbourhoods; staff work in more positive environments; and society creates inclusive systems recognizing everyone’s potential to contribute.
Want to know more about the connections between international human rights standards and RESCALED’s vision for justice reform? Read the full blogpost (PDF)
- Auty & Liebling, 2020; Johnsen et al. 2011; Liebling, 2004; 2011. ↩︎
- Auty & Liebling, 2020. ↩︎
- https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/57/46 ↩︎
- https://www.unodc.org/res/justice-and-prison-reform/nelsonmandelarules-GoF/UN_System_Common_Position_on_Incarceration.pdf ↩︎
- https://share.google/ZJkq7ukvYsNuQYRav ↩︎
- https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4063839/files/A_HRC_RES_57_9-EN.pdf ↩︎
