European Union: Stopping the Trade in Tools of Torture

Index Number: POL 34/001/2007
Date Published: 27 February 2007

The "European Trade Regulation No. 1236/2005 concerning trade in goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, 27 July 2005)" came into effect on 31 July 2006. Amnesty International is concerned about "loopholes" in the Regulation. In particular, this report identifies certain types of equipment with no practical use other than for the purpose of torture and other ill-treatment but which is offered for international sales to law enforcement agencies and is not yet prohibited by the new Trade Regulation.