The UN Correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria reports that the study is released ahead of Nelson Mandela International Day on Sunday.Nelson Mandela International Day is globally celebrated every July 18 to shine light on the legacy of a man who changed the 20th century and helped shape the 21st.
As the global population grew 21 per cent, between 2000 and 2019, the number of prisoners worldwide jumped by more than 25 per cent, according to the UNODC data.By the end of this period, 11.7 million people had been incarcerated – a population comparable in size to countries such as Bolivia, Burundi, Belgium, or Tunisia.
While Northern America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe have experienced a long-term decrease in imprisonment rates of up to 27 per cent, other regions and countries, such as Latin America, Australia and New Zealand, have seen up to 68 per cent growth over the last two decades, the study revealed.However, during this period, the number of women in prison has increased at a faster pace, surging by 33 per cent, versus 25 per cent for men.