Europe and trade
for torture
WHILE the European Parliament sets about issuing
resolutions on human rights violations, it cannot or
does not want to look within, where more than one of
its nations is truly a true glass house in this
context.
|
Eurowaitress!,
bring me another common
position againt Cuba... (Cartoon by Tomy) |
For
example, European companies continue to market
instruments of torture all over the world. Handcuffs
that release electric shocks of up to 50,000 volts,
thumb cuffs, and electroshock weapons are being
utilized by police and security forces to torture
people, even though Europe banned the international
sale of these types of instruments in 2006.
However, several European countries are not
complying with the regulation. The website Red
Adital reveals that from 2006 to 2009, the Czech
Republic issued export licenses for foot cuffs,
electroshock weapons and chemical sprays, and
Germany did so for foot currents and chemical sprays,
and well as nine countries where the police and
security forces had previously used these materials
to inflict torture and abuse.
The website also reveals that Hungary, a member
of the European Union, has stated that it intends to
introduce instruments such as paralyzing electric
belts into its jails and police stations. The
problem is that this type of apparatus has been
banned, because it is considered that its use
inherently constitutes torture or abuse.
