Training on monitoring weapons and instruments of restraint for the French national anti-torture body

This training is part of ODIHR’s continuous work on preventing torture and other ill-treatment and strengthening the independent monitoring of places of deprivation of liberty in the OSCE region. Building on training successfully delivered to the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) of Poland, Slovenia, Austria, Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland, as well as a regional workshop for detention monitors in Central Asia, ODIHR will run this training on monitoring weapons and restraints for France’s Supervisor-General of Places of Deprivation of Liberty (Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté).

The training aims to enhance skills of independent monitors in monitoring and documenting the use of law enforcement equipment in detention and non-custodial settings that could be used or misused to inflict torture or ill-treatment, such as projectile electric shock weapons and other weapons and restraints. The training will be tailored to the specific needs of the French NPM, taking into consideration the composition of the team and the national context such as national legislation and law enforcement equipment in use in the country. In addition, the training will provide the basis to further develop specific recommendations to French authorities to help prevent torture or other ill-treatment inflicted by such equipment. 

The training will be conducted based on the ODIHR/PRI Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela Rules and the Omega Research Foundation’s Practical Guide on Monitoring Weapons and Restraints in Places of Detention.