Submitted 5th October, 2026
Submission by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation to the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in view of its consideration of the Draft Report on possible amendment of Appendices 1 and 3 to Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)2 on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and on the possibility of introducing a simplified amendment procedure for Appendix 2.
*Download the full submission below*
SUMMARY
This submission by Amnesty International and by the Omega Research Foundation aims to inform the ongoing review by the Council of Europe’s (CoE) Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) of the lists of prohibited and controlled goods under the Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)2 to member States on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CM/Rec(2021)2 or Recommendation) to be considered at its 105th meeting.
Amnesty International, as an observer to the CDDH, and the Omega Research Foundation, have actively shared their expertise as torture-prevention and human rights civil society organizations with the CDDH since the outset of its work leading up to Recommendation CM2021(2).Our organizations support the recommendations for extending,
strengthening and regularly reviewing the lists of prohibited and controlled equipment made in the Draft CDDH Report on possible amendment of Appendices 1 and 3 to Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)2 on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereafter ‘Draft CDDH Report’).
URGENTLY REQUIRED ADDITIONS TO APPENDIXES 1 AND 3
This submission specifically highlights five items which, due to their well-documented severe human rights impacts, including in the commission of torture or other ill-treatment in custodial and non-custodial contexts, would be vital additions to CM/Rec(2021)2 Appendixes 1 and 3 and therefore require the Committee of Ministers urgent consideration. Our organisations believe that the following prohibitions and controls are absolutely essential for the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment in line with state obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and related instruments:
1.1. Urgently required additions to the list of prohibited goods in Appendix 1:
▪ Direct contact electric shock weapons and equipment
▪ Multiple kinetic impact projectiles
1.2. Urgently required additions to the list of controlled goods in Appendix 3:
▪ Stun grenades
▪ Acoustic Devices and Weapons
▪ Police batons
SIMPLIFIED AND BIENNIAL REVIEW PROCEDURE
Our organizations support the proposals made in the Draft CDDH Report to introduce a simplified procedure for the amendment of Appendix 2 regarding pharmaceuticals used in lethal injection, and to extend these provisions to amendment of Appendices 1 and 3 regarding law enforcement equipment used in torture and other ill-treatment, as well as the proposal for a biennial review by the CDDH of goods covered by the instrument.
Submission authored by Amnesty International and Omega Research Foundation, and endorsed by the following organisations:
• Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)†
• Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)†
• DIGNITY†
• Freedom from Torture†
• International Federation of ACATs (FIACAT)†
• International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO)†
• International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)†
• REDRESS†
• Reprieve
• World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)*†
• Members of the United Against Torture Consortium
† Members of the Torture-Free Trade Network