By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, United Kingdom – A newly released Amnesty International report has criticized a number of European countries for exporting instruments that can be used to commit torture, which is a violation of the European Union human rights standards.

Legislation passed by the EU Parliament in 2006 banned the international trade of any instruments that are designed for the purpose of conducting torture.  In cases when an item was made for other purposes, but has the potential nevertheless to be used for torture, the law requires that their trade be monitored.

During the time period of 2006-2008, the Czech Republic government approved the sale of chemical sprays, electric shock devices, and shackles.  In many cases, these sales were made to foreign nations with questionable human rights records.

A spokesman for Amnesty International’s European Union office described the extent of the sales.  “There are a number of exports that have been granted to countries such as Georgia, Pakistan, Mongolia and Senegal where there is evidence of torture.  We are still awaiting a response from thee Czech government on what the destination of the exported equipment actually was.”

The Czech Republic has not, however, sold to all potential buyers.  The central European nation refused to sell torture equipment to Iran and Azerbaijan.  The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government agency who holds the final authority to approve a sale, utilizes a standard of taking in consideration a potential buyer country’s United Nations human rights and torture records as well as their own diplomatic reports on those nations.

In responding to the Amnesty International report the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union stated that it was taking the report “very seriously” and will “examine the suggestions in the report with great attention.”

The Amnesty International report also noted that Germany, Spain and Italy have also sold equipment in recent years that could be used for torturing purposes.  Germany has sold foot chains and various chemical sprays to China, India and the United Arab Emirates.  Additionally, the majority of European nations have yet to disclose their exports of the banned items.

Uncertainly regarding the implementation and enforcement of the EU torture legislation was also echoed in the report.  Amnesty International researcher Mike Lewis noted that “although the legislation exists, and was a leader in its field when it was introduced, European member states have not uniformly followed up on their obligations under the regulations.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – EU firms ‘exporting torture equipment’, Amnesty says – 18 March 2010

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Amnesty International Says EU States Exporting Torture Instruments – 18 March 2010

RADIO PRAGUE – Czech Republic picked out in Amnesty International report for exports of ‘torture’ equipment – 18 March 2010