Restraints 1.12 THUMBSCREWS AND FINGER SCREWS Key Technical Features Designed to crush fingers or thumbs by screwing two plates together with the fingers or thumbs trapped between. Human Rights Concerns Thumbscrews and finger screws are designed to inflict pain and injury. Statements and Standards from Human Rights Bodies Examples of Existing Controls They have no use other than for torture or other ill-treatment. Special Rapporteur on Torture: this equipment is an example of "inherently cruel, inhuman or degrading weapons". 53 OHCHR: “[Thumbscrews] are inherently degrading or unnecessarily painful and should not be used in law enforcement” 54 Nelson Mandela Rules: “The use of ... instruments of restraint which are inherently degrading or painful shall be prohibited.” 55 The EU Anti-Torture Regulation prohibits the trade in this equipment. The US CCL controls the export of this equipment. Manufacture should be prohibited. Proposed Control Transfer should be prohibited. Use should be prohibited. UN HRC, Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment : note / by the Secretary-General, 2017, A/72/178, para 51. 53 54 OHCHR, UN Human Rights Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement, 2020, para 5.2. 55 Nelson Mandela Rules, 2016, Rule 47. 33