iv Governments should, in line with principle 2 of the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, equip law enforcement officials with a broad range of weapons and ammunition that would allow for a differentiated use of force. Less-lethal weapons allow officials to apply varying degrees of force in situations where it would be unlawful to use firearms loaded with lethal ammunition. The United Nations has strived to provide law enforcement officials with guidance on the use of force in compliance with international human rights law.3 The publication of the United Nations Human Rights Guidance on the Use of Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement is a significant addition to these efforts. The guidelines are concise and user-friendly, outlining international norms and standards on the use of less-lethal weapons in a scenario-based, weapon-specific manner. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was pleased to collaborate with the University of Pretoria and the Geneva Academy in preparing this publication. Special thanks go to the former Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Professor Christof Heyns, for leading the work on this issue. We stand ready to support States and law enforcement agencies as they deepen their understanding of international norms and standards on the use of force and less-lethal weapons, thereby increasing their ability to respect and protect human rights. Michelle Bachelet United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 3 Such as the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, the UNODC/OHCHR Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement and the OHCHR Guidance and Training Package on Human Rights and Law Enforcement.