36
range. The calibre and velocity of the projectiles, as well as the materials
they are composed of, will also affect the likelihood and seriousness of injury.
7.5.4 Certain projectiles are highly inaccurate.109 To meet international standards,
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. Skip-firing projectiles off the ground causes an unacceptable risk of
serious injury due to their inaccuracy.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF POTENTIALLY UNLAWFUL USE
7.5.5 Kinetic impact projectiles should not be fired in automatic mode.
7.5.6 Multiple projectiles fired at the same time are inaccurate and, in general,
their use cannot comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality.
Metal pellets, such as those fired from shotguns, should never be used.
7.5.7 Kinetic impact projectiles must be tested and authorized to ensure that they
are sufficiently accurate to strike a safe area on a human-sized target from
the required distance, and without excessive energy, which could cause
injury.110
7.5.8 Kinetic impact projectiles should not be targeted at the head, face or neck.
Rubber-coated metal bullets are particularly dangerous and should not be
used.111
A. Mahajna et al., “Blunt and penetrating injuries caused by rubber bullets during the IsraeliArab conflict in October, 2000: a retrospective study”, The Lancet, vol. 359, No. 9320
(2000), pp. 1795–1800.
110
Amnesty International and Omega Research Foundation, The Human Rights Impact of Less Lethal
Weapons and Other Law Enforcement Equipment, p. 138; R.J. Haar and V. Iacopino, Lethal
in Disguise: The Health Consequences of Crowd-Control Weapons. Network of Civil Liberties
Organizations and Physicians for Human Rights, 2016 (available at http://bit.ly/2FBbxmA),
p. 24.
111
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations prohibits the use of rubber bullets by United
Nations police personnel, because of the risks of serious injury or even death from their
improper use. United Nations, United Nations Peacekeeping Missions Military Police Manual,
July 2015, para. 3.6.1.
109
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