OBJECTIVE Deprivation of liberty is a punishment in itself. The objective of this section is to underline that it is not the task of the prison administration to inflict further punishment on the prisoner. On the contrary, prisoners should be encouraged to use their time in prison to learn new skills, to improve their education, to reform themselves and to prepare for eventual release. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES The main aim of the prison authorities in their treatment of prisoners should be to encourage personal reformation and social rehabilitation. The purpose of the prison regime should be to help prisoners to lead law-abiding and self-supporting lives after their release. BASIS IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides: 3. The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which shall be their reformation and social rehabilitation. … According to the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners: 65. The treatment of persons sentenced to imprisonment or a similar measure shall have as its purpose, so far as the length of the sentence permits, to establish in them the will to lead law-abiding and self-supporting lives after their release and to fit them to do so. The treatment shall be such as will encourage their self-respect and develop their sense of responsibility. 66. (1) To these ends, all appropriate means shall be used, including religious care in the countries where this is possible, education, vocational guidance and training, social casework, employment counselling, physical development and strengthening of moral character, in accordance with the individual needs of each prisoner, taking account of his social and criminal history, his physical and mental capacities and aptitudes, his personal temperament, the length of his sentence and his prospects after release. IMPLICATIONS Prison authorities are entitled to take all necessary steps to ensure that prisoners do not escape from lawful custody and that there is good order in prisons. In addition, however, they have an obligation to give prisoners opportunities to make good use of the time they are in custody. This means that there should be a full programme of activities, including education, skills training, work and physical education. 97