Event information

15 May 2023, 16:15-18:00

Electric Shock Belts, Spiked Batons, and Pepper Spray: Regulating the Trade in Torture Tools

Event

Torture is absolutely prohibited. However, there are currently no global regulations regulating trade in the ‘tools of torture’. ‘Tools of torture’ comprise inherently abusive equipment such as body-worn electric shock devices, weighted leg irons and spiked batons that can only be used for torture or ill-treatment; and equipment such as police batons, rubber bullets and pepper spray — that can be readily misused for such purposes.

To fill this regulatory gap, the EU, Argentina, and Mongolia initiated the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade in 2017. The alliance gathered to create an international instrument that builds upon existing regional measures such as the EU’s Anti-Torture Regulation (Regulation 2019/125), first adopted in 2005 and amended in 2019. The ongoing work of this alliance has led to the adoption of UNGA Resolution (73/304) (2019), which resulted in a report from the UN Secretary-General (74/969) (2020), and a report by the UN Group of Governmental Experts (76/850) (2022). The UN General Assembly reiterated its commitment to addressing this governance gap with Resolution (77/209) (2022).

To showcase these efforts, the Geneva Academy and the Geneva Graduate Institute are co-conveying a high-level public panel with key experts in the field of torture. The roundtable will explain the genesis of the abovementioned regulatory initiatives, what it took to achieve them, and shed light on the road ahead.

Event Rationale

How might an international trade regulation help advance anti-torture initiatives? To address this question, this high-level public roundtable will firstly situate a range of UN initiatives that aim to regulate the trade in ‘tools of torture’. Secondly, it will introduce the main findings and policy recommendations of the UN Group of Governmental Experts, as articulated in their 2022 report. Bringing together the insights of experts from a range of institutions involved or with a stake in this regulatory process, this roundtable will also address next steps. Panelists will notably be asked to reflect on how to generate enough critical will and momentum in order to advance a legally binding global treaty regulating the trade in ‘tools of torture’. Given the recent call for input (28 April 2023) by Alice Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, this event is extremely timely and hopes to provide a fruitful space for multistakeholder dialogue and exchange.

Moderators

  • Nico Krisch, Professor of International Law, Geneva Graduate Institute
  • Ezgi Yildiz, Assistant Professor of International Relations, California State University Long Beach and Member of the Informal Expert Group for the Implementation of the EU’s Anti-Torture Regulation

Speakers

  • Alice Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Visiting Research Fellow, Geneva Academy
  • Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law, Geneva Graduate Institute and Geneva Academy
  • Asger Kjaerum, Director of Advocacy, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and former Chair of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Torture-Free Trade
  • Michael Crowley, Research Associate, Omega Research Foundation and Member of the Informal Expert Group for the Implementation of the EU’s Anti-Torture Regulation
  • Thomas Wagner, Deputy Permanent Representative of the EU Delegation in Geneva
  • Verity Coyle, Senior Advisor, Amnesty International

Reception

The event will be followed by a reception.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

2024 Geneva Academy Annual Report News

Our 2024 Annual Report

28 July 2025

Our 2024 Annual Report highlights significant achievements in international humanitarian law education and research during a year marked by deepening global humanitarian crises.

Read more

disops News

Impact of digital disinformation unpacked in new research brief series

9 April 2025

Our new series of Research Briefs examine the impact of digital disinformation and potential solutions for its regulation

Read more

Enforced Disappearances Event

'Short-term' Enforced Disappearances

23 September 2025, 13:00-14:00

This side event will bring together stakeholders to discuss the growing concerning recurrence to short-term enforced disappearances worldwide, and the challenges they pose for victims and accountability.

Read more

Special Rapporteur Sign Event

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in an Era of Escalating Armed Conflict: Where Can International Human Rights Law Help?

25 September 2025, 18:30-20:00

This evening dialogue will present the publication: International Human Rights Law: A Treatise, Cambridge University Press (2025).

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

surveillance image of people Project

Human Rights in a Digitalized World: Mapping Risk, Strengthening Regulation and Promoting the Development of International Human Rights Law

Started in August 2023

To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.

Read more

George Floyd protest in Washington D.C. Project

Promoting and Protecting the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and Civic Space Worldwide

Started in June 2020

This project aims at providing support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Voulé by addressing emerging issues affecting civic space and eveloping tools and materials allowing various stakeholders to promote and defend civic space.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more