Launched Kinetic Impact Projectiles
4.4
AMMUNITION WITH SINGLE PROJECTILE
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CROWD
CONTROL
Key Technical
Features
Human Rights
Concerns
This type of ammunition can be fired from different types of launcher.
Calibres include 12 gauge (shotgun ammunition), 37/38 mm, 40 mm,
and 42 mm.
It is designed to incapacitate the targeted individual via blunt trauma
without penetrating the skin or causing permanent injury.
Some such projectiles are too inaccurate, and cannot be used safely,
as they can accidentally hit target individuals on the head and other
vulnerable areas, which increases the risk of serious injury or death.
Inaccurate projectiles may hit and injure bystanders.
ODIHR: kinetic impact projectiles “should never to be shot
indiscriminately into a crowd" 99
Statements and
Standards from
Human Rights Bodies
Examples of Existing
Controls
OHCHR: “Kinetic impact projectiles should not be targeted at the head,
face or neck” 100, and “impact projectiles should be capable of striking
an individual to within a 10-centimetre diameter of the targeted point
when fired from the designated range”. 101
UNODC and OHCHR: “Launched kinetic impact projectiles should not
be used to disperse a peaceful assembly. In the case of an assembly
that has turned violent, this type of ammunition should only be used
by trained marksmen capable of individualizing the persons that pose
the risk, and only according to the strict requirements of necessity and
proportionality.” 102
Some national export control regimes include this type of ammunition
on their list of equipment that requires an export licence. As some
states class this equipment as 'civilian' or 'policing' rather than
'military', they are not always adequately controlled and reported.
The EU may prohibit the export of these weapons under its sanction
regime when the objective of the sanctions is to prevent the export of
weapons that might be used for internal repression in the destination
state.
Can be manufactured.
Proposed Control
Trade and transfer should be controlled.
Use should comply with international human rights norms.
99
OSCE/ODIHR, Human rights handbook on policing assemblies, 2016, pp. 80-81.
100
OHCHR, UN human rights guidance on less-lethal weapons in law enforcement, 2020, para 7.5.8.
101
Ibid, para. 7.5.4.
102
UNODC and OHCHR, Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement, 2017, p. 94.
83
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