Topic: 2025 – Treatment of Prisoners
Country: Slovenia
Delegate Name: Mackenzee Stanley-Eldred
The humane treatment of prisoners is an issue which affects every nation. Across the globe, over 60% of countries experience overcrowding and understaffing in their prisons, with over 25% operating at 150% of capacity. The Republic of Slovenia believes the true measure of a country’s values is defined by how it treats its most vulnerable, and is deeply committed to the fair treatment of incarcerated persons.
These issues have affected The Republic of Slovenia in recent years. Overcrowding has been a problem in Slovenia since the 1990s. Incarceration rates in Slovenia have increased due to drug offenses and organized crime, however prison capacity has remained stagnant. In reports since 2011, The Republic of Slovenia has also faced understaffing difficulties caused by limited staffing resources and deflated budgets. Still currently, living standards in Slovenia’s Koper and Ljubljana prisons are below the CPT’s minimum standards. Slovenia hopes to address these issues in order to provide fair treatment for all prisoners.
Although the UN adopted the Mandela Rules in 2015, minimum standards of treatment are not binding, and many countries are unable to meet them, resulting in inconsistent protections and gaps in humane conditions. This highlights the need for stronger monitoring programs and national reforms aimed at addressing prison conditions, and aligning them with UN standards.
The Republic of Slovenia proposes a rehabilitation-focused prison system to target the root of overcrowding issues. Rehabilitation programs allow criminals to acclimatize into life after prison, reducing re-incarceration rates and overcrowding in prisons. The Republic of Slovenia also proposes implementing a UN subcommittee aimed at identifying prisons with human rights violations through inspections. In addition, Slovenia emphasizes the importance of free press regarding the treatment of prisoners, ensuring transparency and protecting the rights of prisoners, especially minorities.
