Grasping the nettle: Ending Europe’s Trade in Execution and Torture Technology 15 guidance has subsequently been updated in preparation for the forthcoming DSEI 2015, and includes the following statements: “The Organisers of DSEI work with and act in support of ECO to ensure that all Exhibitors’ equipment, services, documentation and all other forms of visual promotion and display, exhibited or proposed, must comply with: 1. English law and the UK’s international undertakings 2. EU/UN Law and EU/UN international undertakings …The promotion of Category A items is prohibited at all Clarion Defence & Security Events. This restriction applies to all forms of promotion, including the distribution of brochures or other promotional material from your stand which features images or details of any category A goods, even if your company does not intend to market these goods at the event. Category A goods include: n Goods designed for the execution of human beings. n Goods banned by the EU because of evidence of their use in torture. n Restraints specially designed for restraining human beings. n Riot control or self-protection devices designed or modified to administer an electric shock. n Certain cluster munitions, including components. If you are caught promoting category A goods without a relevant UK licence, you will be ejected from the event and could face enforcement action from relevant authorities.”51 Furthermore Clarion state that: “Compliance audits will take place before and throughout DSEI to ensure that equipment, services, documentation and all other forms of visual promotion and display exhibited comply with the above-mentioned undertakings. Exhibitors promoting or exhibiting prohibited items, either overtly or covertly during the exhibition will be in breach of their contract with the Organisers and will forfeit their right to exhibit at DSEI. The Organisers will take appropriate action which may involve the removal of equipment, documentation and/or visual promotional material from the stand into safe custody. The ECO and other relevant authorities will be informed by the Organiser of any breach which may result in legal action being taken against the exhibitor by these authorities. The stand may be closed immediately and the exhibitor will have no claim for redress against the Organisers, nor any refund for loss of fees.”52 Despite these undertakings, Amnesty International and Omega remain concerned about the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism for compliance monitoring to be carried out by the DSEI organiser prior to and during DSEI 2015 to ensure that no company promotes or trades any equipment prohibited by the Regulation or by UK law. These concerns are exacerbated by the previous instances of companies promoting prohibited goods at this exhibition, specifically at DSEI 2009, DSEI 2011 and DSEI 2013, as documented in this and previous Amnesty International and Omega reports.53 In an evidence session given to the UK Parliamentary Committee on Arms Export Controls in December 2014, the UK Government committed to re-examine the relevant UK laws in this area to see if they needed strengthening.54 51 DSEI, Compliance and Eligibility to Exhibit, http://www.dsei.co.uk/Content/Compliance-and-Eligibility-to-Exhibit/3/ (accessed 14 January 2015). 52 DSEI, Compliance and Eligibility to Exhibit, http://www.dsei.co.uk/Content/Compliance-and-Eligibility-to-Exhibit/3/ (accessed 14 January 2015). 53 See for example: Amnesty International/Omega Research Foundation, From Words to Deeds (2010) op.cit., Amnesty International/ Omega Research Foundation, No More Delays, (2012) op.cit 54 House of Commons, Committees on Arms Export Controls, Scrutiny of Arms Exports and Arms Control (2015), http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmquad/608/608iii.pdf (accessed 18 April 2015) Index: EUR 01/1632/2015 Amnesty International May 2015