Use of Taser in the Polish prison system

The webinar aims to assist the Polish Ombuds Institution (Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights) and other relevant stakeholders to better understand the risks associated with the use of projectile electric shock weapons (“Taser”) in prisons. The meeting is also focused on conveying the related international, regional and national standards. 

The relevant stakeholders include the national preventive mechanism (NPM), Polish law enforcement officials as well as civil society organisations working in the field of human rights and, in particular, addressing the challenges of persons deprived of liberty.

Using this webinar as a platform, ODIHR and other international experts will assist the Polish Ombuds Institution and its NPM in their efforts to formulate recommendations to the Polish authorities to address the potential human rights implications of the use of electric discharge weapons in prisons.

The webinar is part of the Torture Prevention portfolio’s ongoing work to support human rights monitors focused on the use of law enforcement equipment that could be used to inflict torture or ill-treatment.

Context

On 31 March 2020, the Polish parliament adopted a new provision in the law which increases the number of direct coercive measures that may be used by prison officers, including objects used to incapacitate people with electricity.

Registration