Topic: Prison Reform
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Suzanne Elles
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Saudi Arabia position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Prisoners go into jail with complex problems, including drug addiction, unemployment and homelessness, which may have contributed to their reasons for committing the offense. Nearly 3⁄4 of prisoners have two or more mental disorders and most have no qualifications. Overcrowding in prisons, another problem, means that prisons are less able to provide education, training and rehabilitation work which helps stop prisoners from re-offending when they are released. Two-thirds of prisons are overcrowded. This is happening all over the world right under our noses. The lack of constructive activity, access to fresh air and exercise, substandard healthcare and disrespectful treatment of families are all trademarks of poor prison standards that simply are not acceptable. Raising awareness by means of Press will bring success in increasing levels of debate on prison conditions and raising critical awareness of the harm done by prison overcrowding.
As prisons are a necessary part of governments all over the world, reform is necessary to keep the penal system effective. To reduce overcrowding, provide better healthcare and education are just some topics of future goals.
There are many different, unique ways of governing and persecuting. Whether a diplomatic government or a monarchy all are to be seen equal to the UN. It is the U.N’s duty to preserve those differences in governments, and in turn preserve national sovereignty.
There are few international agreements that specifically regulate the management of domestic or military prisons. Although broad treaties such as the UN Convention against Torture and the Geneva Convention establish laws regarding the treatment of prisoners, there are no binding contracts to outline the operation of penal facilities. The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted by the United Nations in 1955. This legislation is not legally binding and only provides general guidelines on the operation of detention centers.
