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On 7 October 2025, the Committee of Ministers (CM) adopted important decisions reaffirming the Council of Europe’s strong commitment to curbing the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The CM adopted a decision translating this commitment into concrete actions and follow-up tasks designed to strengthen implementation of existing measures.
Key actions include:
- Updating prohibited and controlled lists: the CM invites the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) to review and update the lists of inherently abusive goods and equipment, as well as law enforcement goods that may be misused for torture, in line with the European Union’s recently updated lists and the 2023 report of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
- Developing guidance for trade fairs: the CM invites the CDDH to prepare best-practice guidance specifically for public officials and private actors participating in law enforcement equipment trade fairs.
- Exploring a binding international framework: the CM reaffirms its support for an international, legally binding instrument on torture-free trade and invites the CDDH to report on UN-level developments, with a view to exploring the need for and feasibility for a Council of Europe binding instrument open to ratification by non-member States.
In addition, the CM encourages the remaining member States to consider joining the Alliance for a Torture-Free Trade. It also calls for further development and promotion of the Council of Europe Online Platform for Human Rights and Business, to enhance dialogue with the private sector on these crucial issues.
The CM work in this area builds on two major reference texts:
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)2 on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, adopted on 31 March 2021; and
- The CDDH report on the implementation of CM/Rec(2021)2, adopted by the CDDH at its 102nd meeting on 26 June 2025.
