Torture tools trade

European Union legislation designed to stop the trade in equipment which is solely used for torture is being ignored. That warning is the thrust of a report just released by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation. The subject was also discussed at a meeting of the European Parliament's subcommittee on human rights in Brussels on Thursday. One of the co-authors of the report is Mike Lewis.

Deutsche Welle: What sort of equipment is exported illegally?

Mike Lewis: There are two categories of equipment we are talking about here. One is the type of equipment that has no other practical use except for torture or ill treatment. These are devices like electric shock stun belts that are placed on already restrained prisoners and they deliver electric shocks to limbs or the kidney area at the touch of a remote control button. We have come across a number of European companies offering these for sale, particularly in Italy and Spain.

We are also concerned about a second category of equipment that does have a legitimate law enforcement or policing use but is widely misused all around the world. That is partly why this 2006 legislation was introduced in the EU to control that legitimate trade, which if that equipment were to fall into the wrong hands, can contribute to torture. It is that trade that is also lacking enforcement of these controls.

Why is this legislation not working properly?

We do not think that this is a particularly lucrative or valuable trade for the EU. So, it is certainly not down to commercial interests. It may just be that member states do not recognize that there is a problem within their state.

It was striking, for instance, when we asked all the member states, five of them told us they were not aware of any producers, traders or exporters of this kind of equipment within their countries. But we were quickly able to identify companies in three of those states that were indeed involved in this market.

So, there is a kind of reluctance of member states to acknowledge that there is a problem.

What can you tell us about Germany's record in this matter?

Germany is one of seven states that has reported that it exports this kind of material within Europe and it is probably the country with the largest number of companies involved in this market anywhere in the EU.

It is a major center of proliferation. Some of my colleagues were at a German policing trade fair in Essen last week, where German, Polish and other EU countries were openly advertising things like leg irons, electric shock weapons and various other kinds of security equipment. It is something that does take place in Germany and for the international market.

You have been addressing the European parliament subcommittee on human rights, what loopholes do you want them to close?

One thing is about the progress of technology. In this area, as in other areas, technology develops and new kinds of equipment come on to the market but are not included in the lists of controlled and prohibited equipment.

In other cases, controls can be avoided by simply relabelling equipment. So, if you are not allowed to export an electric shock belt, you can maybe export an electric shock sleeve, which are functionally similar, but not formally controlled by the regulations.

Interviewer: Mark Caldwell

Editor: Susan Houlton