Unregulated trade contributing to human rights abuses in protests, reveals global inquiry

Global Trade of Weapons Used to Repress Protests Fuels Human Rights Crisis

Introduction

Amnesty International has released a new investigation highlighting the irresponsible trade of less lethal weapons and hunting ammunition that are being used to violently suppress protests in countries around the world. The report, titled “The Repression Trade: Investigating the Transfer of Weapons Used to Crush Dissent,” identifies 23 major producers of such equipment from China, France-Italy, South Korea, and the USA. The weapons in question include tear gas, rubber bullets, batons, and stun grenades. These weapons have been used unlawfully to torture or ill-treat protesters and detainees, leading to a global human rights crisis.

The Need for Regulation

Amnesty International’s investigation reveals a complete absence of global regulation of the trade in law enforcement equipment. This lack of regulation has allowed companies to profit from the sale of these weapons to countries with notorious human rights records. Despite reports of abuse, some companies have continued to export these weapons, perpetuating human rights violations and undermining the right to peaceful protest worldwide.

Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Military, Security, and Policing Issues, asserts that these companies have a responsibility to end their irresponsible trade in such equipment and fully respect human rights wherever they operate.

State Responsibility

States that approve and license the exports of these less lethal weapons are complicit in facilitating serious human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment. Amnesty International calls on these states to regulate this trade and support a robust Torture-Free Trade Treaty, which would prohibit inherently abusive law enforcement equipment and establish human rights-based controls over the trade of such equipment.

The Impact of Less Lethal Weapons

Amnesty International’s investigation reviewed protest footage from the past decade, revealing evidence of the reckless use of less lethal weapons in all regions of the world, often with deadly consequences. Tear gas, rubber bullets, and other similar weapons are frequently misused by security forces to harass, intimidate, punish, or drive away protesters, infringing on their right to peaceful assembly.

The trade in less lethal weapons is no longer confined to specific countries but has become increasingly globalized. Countries like China, South Korea, the USA, and major European states dominate the market, while developing economies, including Brazil, India, and Turkey, also produce and export such weapons.

Production Companies Identified

Amnesty International identified several companies involved in the production and export of less lethal weapons that have been used unlawfully against protesters. Among these companies are Cheddite (French-Italian), Combined Systems (USA), Norinco Group (China), DaeKwang Chemical Corporation (South Korea), and CNO Tech (South Korea).

Cheddite, which produces shells and cartridges, has been implicated in the unlawful use of its products against protesters in Iran, Myanmar, and Senegal, where evidence of human rights violations has been documented.

Combined Systems, one of the largest producers of less lethal weapons in the USA, has had its products verified in use in the USA and other countries known for crackdowns on protesters, such as Egypt, Israel, Tunisia, and Colombia.

Norinco Group, a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, has had its armoured vehicles and less lethal weapons identified in protest-related human rights violations in Kenya, Venezuela, Georgia, Guinea, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

DaeKwang Chemical Corporation’s tear gas and other less lethal equipment have been used unlawfully in Bahrain, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, while CNO Tech’s tear gas grenades have been used to suppress protests in Sri Lanka and Peru.

Calls for Responsibility and Regulation

Amnesty International insists that companies involved in the manufacturing and export of less lethal weapons must conduct human rights due diligence to prevent the misuse of their products by police and security forces. If a company cannot prevent or mitigate potential adverse human rights impacts, it should suspend or cease supply responsibly.

The organization urges states to support the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, which call for the development of legally-binding international law to regulate the trade of such weapons.

The Response

Amnesty International reached out to the companies identified in its investigation, offering them the opportunity to respond to the findings. However, none of the companies had responded at the time of publication.

In its ongoing Protect the Protest campaign, Amnesty International urges governments to prioritize the protection of protesters, remove unnecessary barriers, and restrictions to peaceful protest.

Conclusion

The irresponsible trade of less lethal weapons and hunting ammunition used to violently suppress protests has created a global human rights crisis. With a complete lack of global regulation, companies involved in the production and export of these weapons have profited at the expense of human rights. States that approve and license these exports are complicit in the perpetuation of human rights violations. Urgent action is required to address this issue, including the establishment of regulations and the development of a Torture-Free Trade Treaty. It is crucial that companies and states acknowledge their responsibility to respect human rights and put an end to this irresponsible trade. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right that must be protected and upheld.

Protest-unregulatedtrade,humanrightsabuses,protests,globalinquiry