Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Nelson Mandela once said "a nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it's lowest ones.” Decades later, his words carry urgent relevance — especially in armed conflict, where places of detention represent a hidden humanitarian frontline.
In this video, we explore why independent humanitarian access to places of detention matters, what the Mandela Rules and international humanitarian law require, and why humanity cannot stop at the prison gate.
Learn more about the ICRC's detention work: icrc.org/en/what-we-do/helping-detainees
What is international humanitarian law?
youtube.com/watch?v=HwpzzAefx9M
The Nelson Mandela Rules explained: icrc.org/en/document/better-protection-detainees
Nelson Mandela once said "a nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it's lowest ones.” Decades later, his words carry urgent relevance — especially in armed conflict, where places of detention represent a hidden humanitarian frontline.
In this video, we explore why independent humanitarian access to places of detention matters, what the Mandela Rules and international humanitarian law require, and why humanity cannot stop at the prison gate.
Learn more about the ICRC's detention work: icrc.org/en/what-we-do/helping-detainees
What is international humanitarian law?
youtube.com/watch?v=HwpzzAefx9M
The Nelson Mandela Rules explained: icrc.org/en/document/better-protection-detainees
