Next Steps: Following up on Section 1 - Prohibited equipment This may help provide additional confirmation of: If you have found weapons or restraints in places of detention, including equipment that is prohibited, there are a number of useful steps you may wish to consider taking, including: • Whether the equipment was locally manufactured or imported (and, if so, from where) – a key issue with regards to the UNGA Torture Resolution, and the Robben Island Guidelines, both of which seek to prohibit the production of, and trade in, torture equipment. Depending on the type of equipment and the country of origin, the export may also be in breach of national or regional trade control regulations (for example, EU ‘Torture Regulation’). 1) Closely documenting the weapon or restraint by making a note, sketch and / or photo of: • The feature of the equipment in breach of international standards (for example, the number and location of spikes in the case of spiked batons, the position and length of rigid bars or weighted elements on hand and leg restraints). • Markings (text and numbers) and / or logos on the weapon (which may indicate country of origin, manufacturer, serial number). This can help identify what the weapon and ammunition is, and which companies supplied and / or manufactured it. • Dates, which may indicate its expiry date and / or when the equipment was manufactured (which can be used to work out its expiry date). • The colour(s) of the weapon and/or ammunition - including the background colour, any coloured bands or logos that may be on the weapon, and the colour of any texts or logos. This can help to identify the contents of the weapon and can also aid in identifying the supplier and manufacturer of the equipment. • A photo (or sketch) of the weapon or equipment as a whole, recording its overall shape, the position of key features (for example, the number of barrels it has, where the trigger is) and any unusual or distinguishing features (for example, any marks or ribbing that may be on the weapon or ammunition). • The size of the equipment. If you don’t have a ruler to hand, you can indicate size by comparing it to a common object (for example, a pen or a coin). • Document the weapon or ammunition from all angles, including from the sides and the top and bottom of the equipment, if you are able to do so safely. • Which companies manufactured and / or supplied the equipment, and from which countries. This is useful to support the UNGA Torture resolution and to document equipment that may have been transferred in breach of national or regional trade controls. 2) Investigating the regulations and policies surrounding its issue and use, and investigating whether, in practice, the equipment has actually been i) issued, and ii) used by officials, cross referencing with use of force records, and armoury records, where available. 3) Raising the issue with the relevant authorities, bringing their attention to relevant texts and statements by international and regional bodies (detailed above) in support of a prohibition, and asking for details of: stocks of the equipment, when they were ordered and received, and from where they were obtained. In addition to following up with the prison authorities directly, such information can be further utilised by: • Approaching the country of origin (including trade control departments) and the manufacturer directly. • Reading relevant procurement, tender and award documents for further details of the equipment in use, the manufacturer and supplier, the number of units ordered and the dates ordered and received. • Checking whether national or regional trade controls in the country of origin prohibit the export of this equipment, or require a license. • Using the further sources of information listed in the last section of this Guide to assist with researching particular topics. 9