On March 31, the Committee of Ministers of the European Council adopted a formal recommendation by which the 47 member states will effectively fight the trade in torture equipment.
The recommendation, long solicited by Amnesty International and Omega Research Foundation, provides for the total ban to the trading of any instruments intentionally aimed to cause pain (i.e. sharp sticks, heavy handcuffs and devices that are applied to the detainees’ body which release electric discharges) and requires stricter controls on the trade in police items potentially used to torture: for example, pepper spray, tear gas and bullets that release electrical shocks.
Finally, the recommendation provides guidance on how to control the trade in certain drugs which may be used to carry out death penalties.
Translation by Roberta Mereu, from the voluntary Pressenza translation team. We are looking for volunteers!
