Amnesty International has urged the establishment of a legally binding global treaty to regulate the production and use of electric shock devices, including stun guns and electric shock batons.
The human rights organisation warned that such equipment, which it described as “inherently abusive,” was being deployed by law enforcement agencies for “torture and other ill-treatment” in countries such as China, Venezuela, and Iran.
In a report released on Thursday, Amnesty detailed the use of these devices in prisons, mental health institutions, and migrant detention centres, raising concerns over their severe physical and psychological impact.
“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, an Amnesty researcher specialising in military, security, and policing.
The report also examined the growing use of projectile electric shock weapons (PESWs), which fire probes that attach to a target before delivering an incapacitating shock. Amnesty acknowledged that PESWs might have a role in law enforcement but said they were frequently misused, including for unnecessary and discriminatory use.
Wilcken called for the immediate banning of direct contact shock weapons and strict human rights-based regulations for PESWs.
“Despite clear human rights risks, there are no global regulations controlling the production and trade of electric shock equipment,” he said.
The study highlighted cases where PESWs were used in “drive stun” mode—directly applied to the body—rather than fired from a distance, increasing the risk of torture and excessive force. Serious injuries linked to PESWs included skull and eye penetration, internal organ damage, burns, seizures, and irregular heartbeat.
“Given the high risks, the use of PESWs must be restricted to situations involving a direct threat to life or serious injury where no less extreme options are available,” Wilcken added.
According to Amnesty, at least 197 companies in countries such as China, India, and the United States are involved in manufacturing or promoting direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement.
US-based Axon Enterprise, whose TASER models are the most widely used PESWs, supplies over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 80 countries.
Backed by a network of more than 80 global organisations, Amnesty is calling for a “torture-free trade” treaty to regulate the production, trade, and use of various law enforcement weapons.
The report, titled “I Still Can’t Sleep at Night – The Global Abuse of Electric Shock Equipment,” is based on research conducted over a decade across more than 40 countries.
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