THE NELSON MANDELA RULES
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(b)
His or her rights, including authorized methods of seeking information,
access to legal advice, including through legal aid schemes, and
procedures for making requests or complaints;
(c)
His or her obligations, including applicable disciplinary sanctions; and
(d)
All other matters necessary to enable the prisoner to adapt himself
or herself to the life of the prison.
Rule 55
1. The information referred to in rule 54 shall be available in the most
commonly used languages in accordance with the needs of the prison
population. If a prisoner does not understand any of those languages,
interpretation assistance should be provided.
2. If a prisoner is illiterate, the information shall be conveyed to him or her
orally. Prisoners with sensory disabilities should be provided with information
in a manner appropriate to their needs.
3. The prison administration shall prominently display summaries of the
information in common areas of the prison.
Rule 56
1. Every prisoner shall have the opportunity each day to make requests or
complaints to the prison director or the prison staff member authorized to
represent him or her.
2. It shall be possible to make requests or complaints to the inspector of
prisons during his or her inspections. The prisoner shall have the opportunity
to talk to the inspector or any other inspecting officer freely and in full
confidentiality, without the director or other members of the staff being
present.
3. Every prisoner shall be allowed to make a request or complaint
regarding his or her treatment, without censorship as to substance, to the
central prison administration and to the judicial or other competent
authorities, including those vested with reviewing or remedial power.
4. The rights under paragraphs 1 to 3 of this rule shall extend to the legal
adviser of the prisoner. In those cases where neither the prisoner nor his or
her legal adviser has the possibility of exercising such rights, a member of
the prisoner’s family or any other person who has knowledge of the case
may do so.
Rule 57
1. Every request or complaint shall be promptly dealt with and replied to
without delay. If the request or complaint is rejected, or in the event of undue