Omega Research Foundation Limited

Violence and the threat of violence prevents ordinary people from exercising their full range of human rights. In many countries around the world, there is widespread impunity for torture, arbitrary executions, and other grave violations. Human rights and international humanitarian law violations are frequently committed or facilitated by state officials using specialist law enforcement and security weapons, equipment, and techniques. At the same time, key stakeholders lack sufficient information about these tools and their impact on people's rights. Without more information, oversight will continue to be insufficient, accountability unobtainable, and the trade in these weapons and equip... read more Violence and the threat of violence prevents ordinary people from exercising their full range of human rights. In many countries around the world, there is widespread impunity for torture, arbitrary executions, and other grave violations. Human rights and international humanitarian law violations are frequently committed or facilitated by state officials using specialist law enforcement and security weapons, equipment, and techniques. At the same time, key stakeholders lack sufficient information about these tools and their impact on people's rights. Without more information, oversight will continue to be insufficient, accountability unobtainable, and the trade in these weapons and equipment will remain largely unregulated. In response, the Omega Research Foundation investigates and exposes the global manufacture, trade, procurement, testing, and use of law enforcement and security weapons, equipment, and techniques, as well as related human rights and international humanitarian law violations. We provide expert analysis and policy proposals to strengthen national, regional, and international controls and share our specialist knowledge with key stakeholders, including through training, briefings, capacity building, and technical assistance. Omega's work empowers a wide range of actors with the knowledge needed to provide effective oversight and advocate for change. We work with international and regional institutions, state institutions and political figures, NGOs and human rights monitors, journalists, judges and other legal professionals, private entities, unions, and law enforcement agencies. In doing so, Omega helps to ensure that controls related to the manufacture, trade, procurement, testing, and use of weapons, equipment, and techniques are human rights-compliant; that these controls are effectively implemented and monitored; and that those who perpetrate violations are held to account. Omega's work contributes to four of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 5 (Gender Equality), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).