Torture tools trade 'persisting across Europe', says Amnesty
Amnesty International warns that despite controls 'torture tool trade' still persisting in Europe
Wednesday, 17, Mar 2010 04:41
By Sarah Garrod.
Tools used during torture such as electric shock devices and wall restraints are being traded across Europe, a report by Amnesty International has found.
The jointly released research from the human rights organisation and the Omega Research Foundation found European companies are participating in the global trade in 'tools of torture' despite recently introduced controls.
According to Amnesty the torture tools include fixed wall restraints, metal 'thumb cuffs', and electroshock 'sleeves' and 'cuffs' delivering 50,000 volt shocks to detained prisoners.
The report, 'From Words to Deeds', claims these activities have continued despite the 2006 introduction of Europe-wide controls banning the international trade in policing and security equipment designed for torture and ill-treatment, and regulating the trade in other equipment widely used in torture around the world.
Amnesty International UK arms programme director Oliver Sprague said: "The EU cannot apply double standards when it comes to torture. It cannot say that it abhors torture in all circumstances and then silently permit the transfer of weapons that are used in acts of torture."
The report reveals that several European countries, including Germany and the Czech Republic, have authorised exports of policing weapons and restraints to at least nine countries where Amnesty International has documented the use of such equipment in torture.
The UK is one of only seven of 27 EU countries to have publicly reported its export authorisations of policing and security equipment controlled by the regulation, despite all member states being legally required to do so.
Amnesty and the Omega Research Foundation are urging the European Commission and EU member states to "close legislative loopholes" highlighted in the report.
Michael Crowley, researcher for the Omega Research Foundation, said: "As part of their commitments to combat torture wherever it occurs, member states must now turn their words into deeds. They must impose truly effective controls on the European trade in policing and security equipment, and ensure that such goods do not become part of the torturer's toolkit."
The report will be formally discussed at a March 18th meeting of the European parliament's sub-committee on human rights in Brussels.