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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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Ending the Torture Trade: The path to global controls on the 'tools of torture'
Omega-Amnesty report released ahead of ahead of a high-level UN meeting on the ‘torture trade’
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Review of EU Anti-Torture Regulation and its implementation
Findings and recommendations from Omega's review of the EU Anti-Torture Regulation
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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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Handbook on Handcuffs and Other Instruments of Restraint in Court Hearings
This handbook aims to assist the judiciary limit the use of instruments of restraint to exceptional circumstances.
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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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Submission to OHCHR on the Use of Less Lethal Weapons during Assemblies
Examines the the human rights impact of the use of LLW and ammunition in the context of assemblies
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Private military and security companies: training and equipment
Submission to the UN IGWG on private military and security companies
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Monitoring Weapons and Restraints in Places of Detention: A Practical Guide.
A Practical Guide and Pocket Book for Detention Monitors, Torture Prevention Bodies and other interested parties to assist in monitoring weapons and restraints in places of detention.
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Preventing the Trade in Tools of Torture and Execution
Visualisation setting out how trade controls form an important element in the fight against torture and can help states comply with human rights obligations, including the Nelson Mandela Rules
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Combating Torture: The Need for Comprehensive Regulation of Law Enforcement Equipment
Joint Omega / Amnesty International briefing launched at the first Ministerial meeting of the global Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at UN HQ in New York in September 2018
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Manufacture, trade and use of 'tools of torture' in the Council of Europe, Revised June 2018
Revised Omega report seeking to encourage and inform a process undertaken by the Council of Europe to develop rules targeting the trade in security equipment that could be used to facilitate torture
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Omega submission to the Special Rapporteur on Torture
Submission for Thematic Report on the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:Reaffirming and Strengthening the Prohibition of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
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Manufacture, trade and use of ‘tools of torture’ in the Council of Europe
Report seeking to inform the process undertaken by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to develop rules targeting the trade in security equipment that could be used to facilitate torture.
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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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UN: Time to rein in the global trade in tools of torture
Panel event organised by Omega and Amnesty International at the Human Rights Council on 3rd March 2017 urging governments to close loopholes in international trade law that allow the trade in equipment used to torture detainees. The original presentations are included.
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EU: Time to eradicate the torture trade
Press release urging the European Parliament to vote in favour of strengthening the European Union’s regulation combatting the trade in equipment that can be used to torture, ill-treat or execute people.
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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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Manufacturing torture?
South Africa’s trade in electric shock equipment. A joint report by Omega and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS,South Africa). Examining the manufacture and trade of electric shock equipment from South Africa and options for stronger export controls.
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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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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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Why the EU Should Ban the Commercial Marketing of Inhumane Policing and Prison Equipment
This report details how legal loopholes have allowed potential tools of torture to be advertised and sometimes displayed at trade fairs within the EU
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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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The Deployment of Law-enforcement Equipment. September 2015.
Collaborative study with SIPRI and the Open Society Foundations, into the manufacture, trade and use of prison and policing equipment and weapons in Central Asia.
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Europe's Trade in Execution and Torture Technology. May 2015.
A joint Amnesty-Omega report highlighting the need for strengthened controls over the trade in torture and execution technologies by the European Union
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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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Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture. April/May 2015.
Submission in advance of the 54th Session, detailing equipment and practices "of concern" in Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and New Zealand.
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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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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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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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No More Delays: Putting an end to the EU trade in “tools of torture”. June 2012.
Joint report on the efficacy and implementation of Council Regulation (EC) which was presented to the Committee on Common Rules for Exports of Products.
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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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Arms for Internal Security: Will they be covered by an Arms Trade Treaty? June 2011.
An Amnesty International report looking at proposals to extend the scope of the Arms Trade Treaty.
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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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EU ban on the trade in 'tools of torture'. March 2010.
Amnesty-Omega techincal report seeking to facilitate and inform an EU-led process currently assessing the implementation and effectiveness of EU Regulation 1236/2005.
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"Less than Lethal"? The Use of Stun Weapons in US Law Enforcement. December 2008
Amnesty International report focusing on the US' use and misuse of electroshock equipment (AI Index: AMR 51/010/2008).
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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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Controlling the supply of "tools of torture". June 2007.
This article argues that China not only routinely uses torture equipment, but is also a key exporter of such equipment to other countries. It provides recommendations for domestic and regional controls.
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Ballantyne and Muntingh on Torture. May 2007.
Two CSPRI issues question arguments that torture can be justified under certain circumstances. It gives examples of where, inconsistent with international law, harm is unjust.
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Sustaining conflict and human rights abuses. June 2006.
Amnesty report providing evidence of China's transfers of military, security and police equipment which have been used persistently and systematically for violations.
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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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Stopping the Torture Trade. January 2001.
Amnesty report examining the trade in tools of torture as well as the growing trade in so-called "non-lethal" weapons, focusing on restraints, chemicals, shocking weapons, and torture skills.
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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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