· Develop strategies to reduce the risk that officers will be forced to use firearms States of emergency Human Rights Standards States of emergency may only be declared in conformity with the law States of emergency may only be declared where a public emergency threatens the life of the nation, and where ordinary measures are plainly inadequate to address the situation States of emergency must be officially declared before exceptional measures may be taken Any exceptional measures must be strictly required by the exigencies of the situation Any exceptional measures must not be inconsistent with other requirements under international law Any exceptional measures must not discriminate solely on the basis of race, colour, gender, language, religion or social origin No exceptions are permitted with regard to the right to life; the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; the prohibition of slavery; the prohibition of imprisonment for failure to fulfil a contractual obligation; the prohibition on ex post facto laws; the recognition of everyone as a person before the 33