Amnesty International Calls for Global Oversight of Electric Shock Devices

Amnesty International has called for a binding global treaty to oversee the production and use of electric shock devices, including stun guns and electric shock rifles. In a report released on Thursday, March 7, the human rights group stated that law enforcement agencies in countries such as China, Venezuela, and Iran use these devices for 'torture and other violent behaviors.' The report indicates that electric shock devices are employed in prisons, psychiatric institutions, and detention centers for migrants and refugees. Etienne Wilkins, a researcher at Amnesty International focusing on military, security, and policing issues, stated: 'Those electric shock weapons that come into direct contact with individuals [such as stun guns] can cause severe pain, long-term physical disability, and psychological harm. Prolonged use of these weapons can even lead to death.' The report also notes the 'increasing' use of electric shock rifles, which deliver electric shocks remotely by firing electrodes at individuals, incapacitating them. Amnesty International asserts that while electric shock rifles can sometimes be legitimately used for law enforcement, they are often abused and deployed in situations where there is no necessity. The human rights organization emphasized that electric shock weapons that come into direct contact with individuals should be immediately banned, and electric shock rifles should be subject to serious and human rights-based oversight. Amnesty International expressed regret that despite 'clear human rights risks,' there are no global regulations to control the production and trade of electric shock devices. Numerous reports have emerged regarding the use of electric shock weapons by Iranian security forces against protesters and political prisoners. Amnesty International itself referenced the use of stun guns by Islamic Republic agents during the arrest of some women in a report published in May of this year, citing their accounts of the timing and manner of their detention.