The United Nations has issued a call for stricter regulations on law enforcement equipment following the discovery of torture devices at the Milipol 2025 arms and security trade fair in Paris. Held from November 18 to 21, this event showcased a range of items deemed “inherently abusive,” prompting urgent discussions on the need for a global ban on such equipment.
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, highlighted the importance of rigorous oversight to prevent these devices from reaching the market. She stated, “Direct-contact electric shock devices, multiple kinetic impact projectiles, and multi-barrel launchers cause unnecessary suffering and ought to be banned.” Edwards emphasized that their trade should be prohibited not only within the 27 EU Member States but also globally.
The EU has established an Anti-Torture Regulation since 2006, which was strengthened in 2019. This regulation bans the promotion and trade of certain equipment used for torture or ill-treatment. In 2025, the EU expanded this list further, as confirmed by a UN press release. Despite these regulations, the presence of offensive equipment at Milipol raised significant concerns.
Dr. Simon Adams, President and CEO of the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), expressed support for Edwards’ efforts. He stated that as the largest international organization dedicated to treating survivors of torture, CVT advocates for an end to the trade of goods that inflict human suffering. “Torture is a crime under international law and is illegal everywhere and at all times,” he noted.
Dr. Adams further condemned the marketing of torture devices, emphasizing the grotesqueness of allowing such products to exist within the EU. “This trade in human cruelty should be completely banned,” he declared.
The fair featured various items identified by the UN as abusive, including electric shock weapons, spiked anti-riot shields, and ammunition capable of delivering multiple kinetic impact projectiles. These products were marketed by companies from various countries, including Brazil, China, and the United States.
Among the newly banned items under EU law are aerial systems designed to deliver harmful riot control agents. Despite this, companies promoted drones equipped with multi-barrel launchers that could disperse large quantities of chemical irritants. After the fair’s organizers were informed of these violations, they took swift action, demanding the removal of offending items from display.
Edwards noted that while many companies complied, one state-owned entity refused to dismantle its stall, leading to its shutdown. “The continued promotion of inherently abusive weapons underscores the urgent need for States to adopt my 2023 report recommendations,” she stated.
While Edwards commended the EU’s recent efforts to strengthen controls, she warned that regional actions alone are inadequate. “The discoveries made at Milipol show why a global, legally binding Torture-Free Trade Treaty is essential,” she stated. Without coordinated international regulation, abusive equipment will likely find new markets and victims.
She urged organizers of security and defense exhibitions worldwide to implement robust monitoring and enforce bans effectively. “Milipol’s response was swift and responsible,” Edwards said. “But the fact that banned items were exhibited at all shows that constant vigilance is essential.”
Edwards has consistently raised awareness on these issues and will continue to monitor developments in this critical area. The ongoing dialogue around torture devices and their regulation reflects a growing international consensus on the need for comprehensive measures to protect human rights globally.
