05 CONCLUSION The aim of this report has been to provide an overview of the manufacture, trade, use and misuse of law enforcement equipment and weapons in Brazil and their regulation at the national level. Additional research is required in several areas, particularly with regard to the implementation of new trade controls, transparency concerns, corporate accountability and use of force regulations. Nevertheless, it is possible to identify several conclusions on the basis of this initial report. Firstly, the report observed how the Brazilian market for law enforcement and security equipment has grown in recent decades with several companies now established internationally. It was noted that this growth has been driven both by increased demand for law enforcement equipment domestically and internationally as well as the financial and diplomatic support for the sector from the Brazilian government. A review of the Brazilian manufacturers of law enforcement equipment identified a number of mainly privately-owned companies 5. CONCLUSION producing of a wide range of products from electric shock weapons and chemical irritants to kinetic impact projectiles and stun grenades. While the majority of the products produced by these companies have a legitimate role in law enforcement, the report discovered the manufacture of a number of products, notably thumb cuffs and direct contact electric shock weapons which are inherently abusive. Furthermore, the report found evidence of the import and promotion of foreign-manufactured equipment, including direct contact and body-worn electric shock weapons, which have no practical use other than for the purpose of inflicting torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It was argued that in order to minimise the risk of torture and other ill-treatment, the manufacture, promotion, trade and use of these and other inherently abusive types of law enforcement equipment should be prohibited. As well as raising concerns about the manufacture and trade of inherently abuse equipment, the report highlighted how other types of Brazilian-manufactured law enforcement equipment are being used in noncustodial settings and in places of detention to commit human rights abuses. In doing so, the report called for more effective training for law enforcement officials authorised to use force as well as the development of more rigorous and comprehensive guidelines on the use of law enforcement equipment. The report also argued that these incidents of abuse demonstrate the need for the equipment selected for use by law enforcement to be rigorously tested to ensure that they are fit for purpose and can be used lawfully and in compliance with international human rights norms and standards. Next, the report identified several concerning examples of the export of Brazilian manufactured law enforcement equipment to countries with poor human rights records. While, recent reforms to Brazil’s trade control regime, 63