Topic: 2025 – Treatment of Prisoners
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Jayden Shepski
Around the world, many prisoners face harsh conditions such as overcrowding, abuse, lack of medical care, and poor sanitation. According to the UNODC, more than 60% of countries struggle with overcrowded prisons. These issues affect all regions, even developed nations.
The main international standards for protecting prisoners are the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Mandela Rules. These documents make it clear that prisoners still have human rights that must be respected, no matter their crimes. The large number of people in pre-trial detention—about one third of the global prison population—also increases strain on prison systems and creates additional human rights concerns.Denmark strongly believes that prisoners must be treated humanely and with dignity.
In Denmark, the punishment is the loss of freedom itself; conditions inside prisons should not be harmful or degrading. Denmark supports rehabilitation over punishment and believes that a fair prison system should prepare inmates to safely return to society.
Denmark also recognizes that while human rights standards must be universal, local and regional governments often play an important role in applying these standards effectively.
Denmark:
Prisons focus on rehabilitation, education, and mental health support.
Independent monitoring helps ensure humane conditions.
Alternatives to prison—such as probation or community service—are used to reduce overcrowding.
Internationally:
Denmark contributes to programs that help improve justice systems in developing countries.
Denmark works with NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to promote transparency and report abuses.
Proposed Solutions
1. Improve Oversight and Local Capacity
Encourage independent monitoring of prisons.
Provide training, with help from the UN, on how to follow the Mandela Rules.
2. Reduce Overcrowding
Denmark believes it is better to reduce the number of people sent to prison rather than build more prisons.
Use alternatives to incarceration for non-violent crimes.
Limit the use of pre-trial detention by improving legal aid and speeding up court processes.
Create clearer sentencing guidelines to avoid unnecessary long sentences.
3. Raise Standards Inside Prisons
Ensure prisoners have proper hygiene, food, medical care, and mental health support.
Expand education and job training programs.
Protect prisoners from abuse by guards or other inmates.
In conclusion The Kingdom of Denmark believes that protecting the rights of prisoners is essential to a fair justice system. Denmark is committed to working with all member states to improve prison conditions worldwide, reduce overcrowding, and ensure that everyone—regardless of their crimes—is treated with dignity.
