12 Grasping the nettle: Ending Europe’s Trade in Execution and Torture Technology Chapter 2 / Mechanisms to control the promotion of security equipment Although the Regulation specifically prohibits the import and export of equipment listed in Annex II, it currently contains no provisions restricting the commercial promotion and marketing in EU Member States of such items which could be used for torture, ill-treatment or for capital punishment.42 Promotion of security equipment at EU trade fairs and exhibitions Amnesty International and Omega have previously documented the promotion at EU trade fairs and exhibitions of equipment banned under the Regulation or national law, or of equipment which is inappropriate for use by law enforcement officials and which could facilitate torture or other ill-treatment.43 Further examples of this continuing practice are documented in the illustrative case studies detailed below and elsewhere in this report.44 Amnesty International and Omega are concerned that such promotional activities undermine the object and purpose of the Regulation because they can facilitate the import, export or brokering of equipment currently prohibited or of equipment which the organisations believe should be prohibited under the Regulation. France - Eurosatory 2012 The Eurosatory 2012 exhibition was held in Paris from 11–15 June 2012. Amnesty International and Omega obtained promotional material distributed at this exhibition by China XinXing Import and Export Corporation which advertised a range of restraints including an “inquest chair,” leg-fetters, and handcuff and leg-fetter combinations. Although not then-prohibited under the Regulation, Amnesty International is concerned that these products are inappropriate for use by law enforcement officials and could facilitate ill-treatment. Far left: Inquest chair, Bottom centre: legfetters, Top right: handcuff and legfetter combination, all taken from the China Xingsing Import and Export Corporation catalogue distributed at Eurosatory 2012. 42 Certain EU Member States do have controls in this area. For example, the UK includes promotion within the scope of its national control on brokering of Category A goods. See UK Government, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, March 2010 op.cit 43 Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation, No More Delays: putting an end to the EU trade in “tools of torture”, ACT 30/062/2012, April 2012, pp.31-34. 44 See for example pp.34-41, highlighting the promotion of direct contact electric shock devices, prisoner hoods and prisoner control pliers. Amnesty International May 2015 Index: EUR 01/1632/2015