By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The Department of Correctional Services wants to position the Nelson Mandela Rules Academy as an international centre of excellence for correctional training and the promotion of international standards, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
National Commissioner of Correctional Services Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale said on Monday that the department valued its continued partnership with and technical support from the UNODC, which contributed to the establishment of the Academy earlier this year.
“Typical of Africans, it is in our bloodstream to push for one step forward,” Thobakgale said.
“The vision was to say we need to go beyond the Nelson Mandela Rules by giving them practical expression by establishing an actual academy.”
He described the Academy as “a physical home where minds could meet, knowledge could be exchanged and experiences could be shared, both physically and virtually”.
Thobakgale said the department envisioned a platform that would bring together correctional practitioners, experts, policymakers and institutions from across the world to exchange ideas on improving the management of correctional facilities and the treatment of people in their care.
He acknowledged that the department could not realise the vision alone, citing the UNODC’s critical role in turning the initiative into reality.
“We are grateful that your office responded positively to our call, and that we have since built a partnership that continues to give substance to this vision,” he said.
He said the responsibility now rested with all stakeholders to build on the foundation and develop the Academy into an institution capable of making a meaningful and lasting difference in how countries treat people behind bars.
Thobakgale described the visit by UNODC executive director Monica Juma as timely and valuable as the department continued efforts to establish the Academy as a global centre of excellence.
“We look forward to your insights, guidance and continued partnership with UNODC,” he said.
He said the challenges facing correctional systems were not unique to individual countries and that meaningful progress depended on sharing experiences, knowledge, expertise and innovative approaches.
Thobakgale expressed confidence that engagements during Juma’s visit would strengthen the shared commitment to building correctional systems that were humane, professional, accountable and responsive to the needs of society.
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