02 USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT IN BRAZIL In Brazil, law enforcement officials are equipped with a wide range of equipment and weapons from instruments of restraint and striking weapons to chemical irritants and firearms, which enable them to provide a proportionate and graduated response to the threats they may face. Although the primary focus of this report is the manufacture and trade of law enforcement equipment and weapons, in order to provide context for the concerns raised in the report it is nonetheless instructive to begin by analysing the types of equipment that are currently used by law enforcement in Brazil. With this in mind, the sections below briefly examine the different types of equipment and weapons currently used by Brazilian police 2. USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT IN BRAZIL and prison officials. In doing so, the report will highlight some of the potential human rights implications and risks associated with each type of law enforcement equipment as well as some recent examples of how these have been misused both on the streets and in places of detention. 2.1 Chemical Irritants Chemical irritants are a range of toxic chemical agents which are widely used by law enforcement officials against individuals engaged in violence or posing a threat of violence and for controlling or dispersing crowds10. Commonly used irritants include CN or CS (often called tear gas) and OC or PAVA (often called pepper spray), all of which are designed to deter or disable by temporarily producing sensory irritation and pain in the eyes and upper respiratory tract. These chemicals can be delivered via hand-held aerosol sprays, larger shoulder-worn and ‘back-pack’ style sprayers, hand-thrown grenades, weapon-launched projectiles and grenades, water cannon, and fixed position dispensers which deliver irritants into a specific area. Exposure to chemical irritants can result in profuse tearing of the eyes, coughing and chest tightness. When used in excessive quantities chemical irritants can also cause difficulty breathing, vomiting, chemical burns, and blistering of the skin. In extreme cases, death either through asphyxiation or chemical poisoning has also been reported. The risks associated with the use of chemical irritants vary depending on a range of factors including the means of delivery used, the location and environmental conditions, the quantity of irritant used, and the age and physical condition of those exposed11. Specifically, the risk of death or serious injury is greatly increased if used in confined spaces, such as prison cells, or in situations where it is difficult for crowds to disperse, such as sports stadiums12. Such misuse not only increases the risk of overexposure but can also create panic leading to secondary crush injuries. The use of wide-area dispersal mechanisms such as water cannons can also increase the risks associated with chemical irritants, since these methods of dispersal are inherently 9