Under the Geneva conventions, the “Recommendations” for the application of kinetic projectiles (as the Model 1325) discourages police to target the faces of demonstrators, as they could result in “skull fractures and brain damage, eye damage (including permanent blindness) and even death.” The use of kinetic projectiles from a raised area, as in protest, can increase the risk of protesters shot in the head. Target the torso can cause damage to essential organs and result in bodily penetration, especially when fired at a nearby range. The caliber and speed of the projectile, as well as the material from which they are made, will also affect the seriousness of the injury.
In addition, the Geneva conventions specify the circumstances of possible illegal uses of these weapons and arrange the rules:
- Kinetic projectiles should not be fired in automatic mode.
- Shooting multiple projectiles at the same time do not conform to the principles of necessity and proportionality.
- The impact of projectiles should be tested and authorized to ensure that they are accurate enough for a safe area without using excessive energy that could cause injury.
- Kinetic ammunition weapons should not be used to target the face, face or neck.
“Less deadly”
The vast majority of countries keep confidential the specific name of the models they use to prevent protests. Some governments, for example, record purchases according to general appointments, such as “40 mm launchers”, without citing the brand or model, making it difficult to responsibility and control the illegal use of these devices.
For example, in Mexico, the Secretariat of National Defense launched Tender LA-007000999-E818-2022 in November 2022 for a purchase of 70,000 long and short 40-mm gauge gas projectiles, along with smoking ammunition and liquid marking, According to El Universal. The specifications do not show marks or models of the launcher or manufacturers.
Only countries, such as Canada, include the brands and models of their “non -weapons. Similar records do not exist in Mexico or Latin America.
The application of weapons such as the Penn Arms GL-1 or the like, as well as defense technology 1325, is seen in social protests, often documented by Amnesty International, which accuses them of abuse against peaceful civilians. And, although reportedly as “less deadly”, they can cause serious injuries and human rights violations. In addition, the organization, in its 2023 report “My eye exploded“Requires that the use of 40-mm gas or effective projectiles against peaceful civilians should be suspended.
According to an estimate of the National Human Rights Institute of Chile, police actions during the protests, which began in October 2019, resulted in more than 440 eye injuries, with more than 30 cases of eye loss or eye break.
This story was originally published in Wired in Spanish and was translated from Spanish.
