Foreign manufacturers of defence and security equipment often work in partnership with local distributors view the promotion, import and distribution of law enforcement equipment which has no practical use other and representatives to market and sell their products to domestic buyers107. During the research for this than for the purpose of inflicting torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should report, Omega identified a number of companies that supply foreign-manufactured law enforcement and be strictly prohibited. Furthermore, as with domestically manufactured products, in order to minimise the risk security equipment, including Berkana Tecnologia em Segurança, which distributes the stun grenade ‘Typhon of the law enforcement equipment and weapons being used to commit human rights violations, it is essential Zeta’ manufactured by British company Typhon Group Limited108, and NL Tecnologia e Segurança, who are to ensure that all equipment which is permitted to be imported is manufactured to a high standard and that its the exclusive representatives of PEPPERBALL products including chemical irritant projectiles and launchers in design is consistent with human rights standards. Brazil109. 4.3 Exports During the 1980’s Brazil was one of the world’s biggest arms exporters, exporting over $1 billion worth of military and security equipment between 1984 and 1986 alone110. The country’s share of the global market declined sharply during the 1990s following the fall of the country’s military regime, but in recent years has steadily recovered. In 2019, Brazil reported a 30% increase in total export authorisations for defence products, from $ 915 million USD in the previous year to $ 1.3 billion USD111. Although Brazil still cannot be considered as a major arms exporter (it averages only around 0.2% of global exports each year), it nonetheless remains the largest exporter in South America and has established itself as one of the world’s leading exporters of firearms and live ammunition, ranking fourth in terms of its total exports behind the USA, Italy, and Germany112. While the export of law enforcement equipment comprises a relatively small proportion of Brazil’s overall defence trade, there is nevertheless evidence to suggest that there is high international demand for Brazilian manufactured products, with companies such as Condor emerging as world leaders in the sector. ▲ A Quartzo promotional stand displaying an electric shock shield and baton (right) and an antiriot suit with electric shock capture pole – an extendable metal pole incorporating an electric shock function and spikes with a moveable two-pronged claw designed to restrain targets by the wrist, ankles, or neck (left) © Quartzo Engenharia In part, the success of Brazilian companies internationally can be attributed to the support of the Brazilian government, which has taken a proactive approach to the promotion of Brazilian manufactured arms abroad. In 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs circulated the document Planejamento Estratégico de Promoção Omega believes that the inherently abusive nature of the equipment marketed by one company is Comercial (PEPCOM 2017) among embassies and consulates, urging the Department of Trade and Investment of particular concern. Quartzo Engenharia de Defesa supplies a wide range of crowd control and less lethal Promotion to collaborate with industry associations to mobilise trade delegations to visit Asia, Africa, Europe equipment manufactured by the Chinese company Shenzhen Senxunda Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, including and the Middle East in order to promote the sale of Brazilian defence and security products113. Similarly, inherently abusive direct contact and body-worn electric shock weapons, such as stun cuffs, electric shock Brazil’s new national policy on the export and import of defence products, PNEIPRODE (see below), instructs gloves, stun batons, and stun vests. These products have been promoted at a number of trade shows in Brazil, the Ministry of Defence ‘in coordination with the commercial promotion sectors of the Embassies of Brazil’ to including LAAD. In 2019, Omega sources who attended the LAAD fair documented the presence of Senxunda ‘guide Brazilian military attachés to act with a view to promoting the IDB and assisting exporters abroad’114. goods on a stall under the name of Quartzo. On the stall, a remote-control stun cuff and pair of electric shock Finally, in order to improve the efficiency of export negotiation processes, in 2018 the Council of Ministers of gloves were physically exhibited and further body-worn electric shock devices were included in promotional the Chamber of Foreign Trade (Camex) approved the creation of a new technical group, Team Brasil Defence, materials available on the stall. The fair organisers later asked for these products to be removed from display to coordinate and monitor negotiations on financing operations and grant guarantees for the export of Brazilian and confiscated Senxunda brochures which were available at the stall. defence products.115 Although Omega has not found evidence that the products promoted by Quartzo are currently being used by In addition to institutional support, in recent years Brazilian exporters of law enforcement and security Brazilian law enforcement, their promotion at a Brazilian event is nevertheless highly concerning. In Omega’s equipment have also benefited from the apparent endorsement of the country’s Executive. In January this year, 46  47