GENEVA - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, today called on States to move beyond piecemeal controls and begin negotiations towards a global framework to regulate the trade in goods used for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The call comes with the publication of a new Questions and Answers paper on torture-free trade, setting out the case for stronger international action to prevent the manufacture, promotion, financing, transfer and use of inherently abusive law enforcement equipment, as well as equipment that is frequently misused to commit torture and ill-treatment.
"Torture does not occur in a vacuum," Edwards said. "It often relies on tools, technologies and commercial supply chains. The international community has prohibited torture absolutely, yet law enforcement equipment linked to torture and abuse continues to be produced, marketed and traded across borders."
The paper explains why existing national and regional controls remain fragmented, leaving significant gaps that can be exploited. While some items, such as electric shock batons, spiked batons, body-worn electric shock devices and certain restraint devices, have no legitimate place in law enforcement, other equipment may be lawful in principle but is regularly misused in places of detention, during policing operations, at borders, or in the context of public assemblies.
"Not only would a treaty reduce the risks of torture, it would also ensure that law enforcement officials are issued only lawful equipment and that they receive proper training," the expert said.
The publication comes amid rapid expansion of global markets for law enforcement equipment, changing patterns of equipment use and new technologies.
"Responsible businesses should not have to compete with those willing to profit from cruelty," Edwards said. "This is not about stopping legitimate trade. It is about ensuring that trade does not facilitate torture."
Edwards urged States to work together towards a common international treaty, building on existing regional measures and growing cross-regional support for stronger controls.
"Every abusive device removed from the market and every safeguard strengthened is a step towards protecting human dignity," she said. "The world has long agreed that torture is unacceptable. The question now is whether we are prepared to regulate the commercial pathways that enable it."
The Questions and Answers paper is available here: Questions and Answers on Torture-Free Trade
The Special Rapporteur's global study on the trade and annexes of equipment are accessible here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/a78324-thematic-study-global-trade-weapons-equipment-and-devices-used.
