1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Less-lethal weapons,7 such as police batons and chemical irritants, have an important role in law enforcement, which aims to protect individuals and uphold the law. They may be used either in situations where some degree of force is necessary but where the use of firearms would be unlawful, or as a less dangerous alternative to firearms, in order to reduce the risk of injury to members of the public, including those suspected of criminal conduct. Law enforcement officials should be equipped with an appropriate range of less-lethal weapons and related equipment. Where they are equipped only with a baton and a firearm, the risks to themselves and to the public may be heightened. 1.2 Less-lethal weapons and related equipment may also kill or inflict serious injury, especially when they are not used by trained personnel in accordance with the specifications, with general principles on the use of force, or with international human rights law. In addition, extrajudicial killings and acts of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment — serious violations of international law — have been perpetrated using lesslethal weapons and certain forms of related equipment. 1.3 The purpose of this Guidance is to provide direction on the lawful and responsible design, production, transfer, procurement, testing, training, deployment and use of less-lethal weapons and related equipment. It is addressed to States, law enforcement agencies, manufacturers, human rights bodies and mechanisms, private security companies, police oversight bodies and human rights defenders, and to individuals seeking to assert their right to a remedy for human rights violations. It is also intended to promote accountability for the design, production, testing, transfer, deployment and use of less-lethal weapons and related equipment. It is not intended to serve as a set of standing operating procedures for individual officers, but may assist States and their law enforcement agencies in fulfilling their duty to put such procedures in place. 7 The Guidance avoids referring to weapons and equipment as “non-lethal” since the use of any weapon can have fatal consequences.