The United Nations has issued urgent calls for stricter regulations on the trade of law enforcement equipment following the exhibition of controversial torture devices at the Milipol 2025 arms fair in Paris. Held from November 18 to 21, the event showcased a range of items that have been flagged as potentially abusive, prompting significant concerns from human rights advocates.
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, has emphasized the need for rigorous oversight of security and policing trade fairs. She noted that such events can facilitate the distribution of harmful equipment that contravenes international norms against torture. “Direct-contact electric shock devices, multiple kinetic impact projectiles, and multi-barrel launchers cause unnecessary suffering and ought to be banned,” Edwards stated.
The European Union’s Anti-Torture Regulation, which was first introduced in 2006 and strengthened in 2019, prohibits the marketing and trade of certain equipment designed for torture or ill-treatment. In 2025, the EU expanded this list significantly. Despite these regulations, numerous items that have been categorized as inherently abusive were prominently displayed at Milipol 2025.
Edwards highlighted that among the offending products were direct-contact electric shock weapons, spiked anti-riot shields, and ammunition designed to inflict maximum impact. The fair featured items from companies based in countries including Brazil, China, India, and the United States. “It is grotesque that such products even exist,” declared Dr. Simon Adams, President and CEO of the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), the largest international organization focused on treating survivors of torture.
The UN’s scrutiny followed reports that drones capable of dispersing chemical irritants were marketed at the fair, despite being listed as prohibited under EU law. After receiving notifications about these items, Milipol organizers took swift action, demanding the removal of certain products from exhibitor catalogs. However, one state-owned company reportedly refused to comply, resulting in the closure of its stall.
The response from Edwards underscores a larger issue: the need for a global treaty to regulate the trade of torture-related equipment. “The discoveries made at Milipol show why a global, legally binding Torture-Free Trade Treaty is essential,” she asserted. Edwards called for enhanced international cooperation to prevent the distribution of abusive equipment across borders, warning that without coordinated regulation, such items will continue to find new markets.
In addition to advocating for a global treaty, Edwards urged all organizers of security and defense exhibitions to implement robust monitoring systems and to cooperate with independent investigations. “Milipol’s response was swift and responsible,” she noted. “But the fact that banned items were exhibited at all shows that constant vigilance is essential.”
The ongoing dialogue surrounding the ethics of law enforcement equipment highlights a critical intersection of human rights and international trade. The UN’s initiatives aim to protect vulnerable populations from the effects of such devices and ensure accountability among manufacturers and governments alike.
