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Omega's publications provide researchers, policy makers and the media with information, data and policy recommendations which are independent and rigorously researched using open sources.

We work with an international network of partners and associates to disseminate our findings.

Omega's research, policy expertise and images have been used in a wide variety of reports, policy briefings and campaign materials by national, regional and international organisations including Amnesty International, the UN and the European Commission.

Omega's publications - and a selection of publications we have contributed to - can be can be found below for download. If you download a resource, please link to it from your website or share with your professional network.

Please contact us (info@omegaresearchfoundation.org) if you have any questions about our resources.


"My Eye Exploded": the Global Abuse of Kinetic Impact Projectiles
Published jointly with Amnesty International, based on research in more than 30 countries over the last five years. Available in English and Arabic.
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Brazil: Technical Memorandum on the Regulation of the Use of Force in the Prison and Socioeducational Systems
Human rights-based analysis of existing use of force protocols. Available in Portuguese.
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The manufacture, trade and regulation of law enforcement and security equipment in Brazil
New report examining the manufacture, trade, and use of law enforcement weapons and equipment in Brazil. Available in English and Portuguese.
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Lowering the risk - Curtailing the use of chemical irritants during the COVID-19 pandemic
Position paper setting out the increased risk of using chemical irritants during the pandemic.
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Response to the Working Group on Mercenaries call for submissions
The evolving forms, trends and manifestations of mercenaries and mercenary-related activities
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A review of less lethal weapons manufacturers, trade and misuse
A paper examining the human rights and trade control implication of less lethal weapons
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Contemporary development, promotion and use of remote control chemical irritant delivery mechanisms:
Paper examining the challenges of effective state control of the trade in chemical irritants
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Action needed now on “remote control” tear gas delivery systems
Omega urges the Chemical Weapons Convention States Parties to address development, proliferation and potential misuse of “wide area” and “remote control” riot control agent (RCA) delivery systems
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Briefing Paper: Use of Tools of Torture in OSCE participating States
Exploratory investigation conducted by the Omega Research Foundation into the trade in and use of law enforcement equipment used for torture and other ill-treatment in OSCE participating States across several regions.
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Time to end police misuse of tear gas. November 2016.
Omega urges the Chemical Weapons Convention States Parties to address misuse of riot control agents in law enforcement
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Tools of Torture and Repression in South America: Use, manufacture and trade. July 2016
Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Countries researched: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
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Compliance through pain
Electric shock equipment in South African prisons. A joint briefing by Omega and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS, South Africa). Examining the misuse of electric shock equipment and recommending the prohibition of body worn electric shock devices.
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Tools of torture?
Use of electric shock equipment among African police. A joint briefing by Omega and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS, South Africa). Highlighting misuse of electric shock equipment by law enforcement officials, and policy options to prohibit and prevent torture.
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Use of Tear Gas on Peaceful Protesters. February 2016.
The report offers a brief summary analysis of Human Rights investigations into the misuse of tear gas on peaceful and civilian protesters member states of the Council of Europe.
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Tear Gassing by Remote Control. December 2015.
This report, concerned with breaches of the CWC, was produced jointly by Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project and Omega for the Remote Control Project.
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Chinese riot control agent means of delivery. November 2015.
This paper focuses on the production and promotion by Chinese companies of a range of riot control agents, and how their delivery risks breaching international law.
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Guidelines for Implementation of UNBPUFF. August 2015.
An Amnesty International (Dutch Section) report on guidelines for implementation of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
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Body-Worn Electric Shock Equipment. May 2015.
Poster submitted to the 8th European Symposium on Non-Lethal Weapons, Ettlingen, Germany. The poster addresses concerns about their use, providing recommendations to states.
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The Human Rights Impact of Law Enforcement Equipment. April 2015.
Joint Amnesty-Omega report detailing risks associated with less lethal weapons and other law enforcement equipment used in policing and corrections work.
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Submission Concerning LEAs. February 2015.
This submission by Omega Research Foundation responds to an Executive Order (January, 2015) regarding Federal Support for Local Law Enforcement Equipment Acquisition.
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Use of Police Equipment in Kenya. January 2015.
This table profiles law enforcement equipment used by police in the Lang’ata Primary School. Police fired tear gas at protesters following a decision to sell a school playground.
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China's Trade in Tools of Torture and Repression. September 2014.
This report documents China’s manufacture of and trade in law enforcement equipment, and considers some examples of how this equipment is used in China and abroad.
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Regulation of agent delivery mechanisms under the CWC. April 2013.
"Regulation of “wide area” riot control agent delivery mechanisms under the CWC" is part of an on-going project with Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project.
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Standards for appropriate selection and use. June 2012.
Slide presentation on standards for appropriate selection and use of less lethal technologies, giving an overview of the “use of force” project and its focus.
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Christof Heyns on the use of lethal force during arrest. November 2011.
Briefing on the forthcoming (2011) report from the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions into the use of lethal force during arrest.
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Police use of force and less lethal weaponry. October 2011.
Omega Research Foundation briefing for the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, as part of a European Commission funded 'use of force' project.
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Less Lethal Systems and the Appropriate use of Force. March 2011.
The paper argues that the use of less lethal systems, in comparison with lethal weapons, has not been well regulated and monitored, concluding with proposals.
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Use of less/non lethal items by correctional officials. December 2010.
Submission on the Correctional Matters Amendment Bill [B41-2101] concerning Electro-Shock Devices, Teargas, Batons, Leg-Cuffs and Belly-Chains.
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Police and Security Equipment in South Africa. June 2010.
World Cup Special Issue guide for journalists and researchers to aid in the identification of security and policing equipment used by South African police forces.
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Dangerous Ambiguities. October 2009.
Regulation of Riot Control Agents and Incapacitants Under the Chemical Weapons Convention
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A visual guide to policing and security equipment in China. August 2008.
2008 Beijing Olympics special issue providing visual reference guide for journalist and researchers to help identify security and police equipment supplied to China.
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Undermining Global Security: The European Union's Arms Exports. February 2004
An Amnesty International report analysing the European Union's arms exports (AI Index: ACT 30/003/2004).
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The Pain Merchants. December 2003.
This report shows why the manufacture, use and transfer of security and police technologies needs to be strictly regulated by governments using common criteria.
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Proposed alternatives to the baton round in Northern Ireland. March 2003.
Omega research on behalf of The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission concerning potential breaches of human rights related to the use of baton rounds.
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An appraisal of technologies for political control. January 1998.
"An assessment of crowd control technology options for the European Union” grew out of a 1997 Science and Technology Options Assessment report in 1997.
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