The rights group warned that such equipment is frequently deployed in detention settings, including prisons, mental health institutions, and migrant and refugee detention centers
Amnesty International has called for a global, legally binding treaty to regulate the production and use of electric shock equipment, including stun guns and electric shock batons, citing concerns over their use for torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The rights group warned that such equipment is frequently deployed in detention settings, including prisons, mental health institutions, and migrant and refugee detention centers. “Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability, and psychological distress. Prolonged use can even result in death,” said Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security, and policing issues.
The report also highlighted the increasing use of projectile electric shock weapons (PESWs), which attach to a target and deliver immobilizing shocks. While PESWs may have a legitimate role in law enforcement, Amnesty warned they are often misused, including in cases of “unnecessary and discriminatory use.”
Wilcken urged an immediate ban on direct-contact electric shock weapons and strict human-rights-based trade controls on PESWs. He stressed that despite the evident human rights risks, no global regulations exist to control their production and trade, leaving room for abuse and misuse by security forces worldwide.
