E/CN.4/2005/62 page 7 Manufacturers, brokers and distributors of electro-shock weapons: 2000-2004 Region Number of companies African States 20 Asian States 119 Eastern European States 59 Latin American and Caribbean States 19 Western European and other States 196 Total 413 21. However, the actual manufacture of electro-shock stun weapons appears to be undertaken by at least 56 companies located in just 12 countries: Manufacturers of electro-shock weapons: 2000-2004 Region Number of companies African States 2 Asian States 36 Eastern European States 5 Latin American and Caribbean States 3 Western European and other States 10 Total 56 22. Chemical irritants. The number of companies that manufacture and offer to supply different types of tear gas and pepper spray for law enforcement continues to grow. At least 54 companies that manufacture chemical irritants such as tear gas and pepper spray have been identified in 19 countries between 2000 and 2004: Manufacturers of chemical irritants and chemical irritant devices: 2000-2004 Region Number of companies African States 2 Asian States 15 Eastern European States 2 Latin American and Caribbean States 1 Western European and other States 34 Total 54 23. Kinetic weapons. Batons, and variations on them such as sticks, canes, sjamboks and lathis are the most commonly used police weapon worldwide. They are cheap, easily manufactured locally, and are generally issued to all officers, including those who would not normally carry a firearm or any other weapon. Whilst the majority of such devices employed by police and security forces, if used responsibly and strictly according to international human rights standards, can have legitimate functions, certain weapons do not, such as spiked steel police batons. 24. While the preceding tables and figures attempt to draw a rough picture of the regional distribution of manufacturers of some commonly used instruments implicated in torture and ill-treatment, it is apparent that the picture of the global trade is incomplete. This is due to the lack of appropriate and adequate data.