Tools of torture? Use of electric shock equipment among African police

There are many documented instances where African law-enforcement officials use electric shock equipment in a way that amounts to torture. How can this be prevented?

This policy brief is part of the ‘tools of torture' series. Other policy briefs in this series:

Manufacturing torture? South Africa's trade in electric shock equipment

Compliance through pain: electric shock equipment in South African prisons

Torture is not an act that happens in isolation. It occurs in many contexts, and there are several techniques and means by which pain and suffering are inflicted on suspects, convicted inmates and others deprived of their liberty.

This policy brief highlights how African law-enforcement agencies or government security forces potentially misuse electric shock equipment in a way that contravenes international and continental anti-torture frameworks. It then discusses reported cases of such misuse in South Africa. Finally, recommendations are made on how the use of electric shock equipment on the continent could be curbed, along with ways to build on efforts to prohibit and prevent torture.

About the author

Mothepa Shadung is a junior researcher at the ISS in Pretoria. She works in the Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, in the Africa’s Development and the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction programme and the Arms Management programme. She holds a master’s qualification in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.