Omega Research Foundation
Budget
€536,580
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
5
1.75 FTE
EU Grants
€505,111
Mission & Goals
The Omega Research Foundation (Omega), a UK-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) providing rigorous, objective, evidence-based research on the manufacture, international trade, and use of military, security and police equipment around the world. Such technologies range from small arms and light weapons to large weapon systems; from policing technologies and prison equipment to equipment used for torture. Omega is the only NGO that systematically monitors the global trade in equipment that has no purpose other than torture or other ill-treatment, or that are frequently misused for such purposes. Omega monitors this trade and investigates cases to uncover the entire ‘supply chain’ from production of equipment; methods of promotion and supply; to the use of equipment in specific cases of torture and other human rights violations. Omega's aim is that human rights and international humanitarian law violations are not committed or facilitated by people using this equipment.
EU Legislative Interests
The Omega Research Foundation (ORF) has engaged with the European Commission, European Parliament, and EU Council Working Party on Human Rights and participated in events and briefing sessions on the following policies: • EU Anti Torture Regulation (Regulation (EC) 1236/2005) - facilitated the creation, advised on subsequent revisions • Regulation (EU) 2019/125 - provided advice on further strengthening of the Regulation and its implementation by all EU Member States - ongoing; • Alliance for Torture Free Trade - facilitated formation and development, promoting international controls on trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty; • 2019 UN General Assembly Resolution A/73/L.94, Towards torture-free trade (and subsequent related resolutions) - facilitated support for adoption; and of the ongoing UN process examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for international standards on ‘torture-free trade’.
Communication Activities
EU Anti Torture Regulations - Regulation (EC) 1236/2005, Regulation (EU) 2019/125: Europe Regional Briefing on the trade in law enforcement equipment used for torture and other ill-treatment, October 2024 https://omegaresearchfoundation.org/reports/europe-regional-briefing-on-the-trade-in-law-enforcement-equipment-used-for-torture-and-other-ill-treatment/ 2019 UN General Assembly Resolution A/73/L.94: In 2023 ORF undertook research and provided technical assistance to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture for her October 2023 report on trade in law enforcement equipment used in torture and other ill-treatment. This report identified equipment that is inherently abusive and whose manufacture, trade and use should be prohibited, and equipment whose trade and use must be controlled, and called for the development of an international instrument to address the trade, in support of EU policy. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/a78324-thematic-study-global-trade-weapons-equipment-and-devices-used ORF presentation, on behalf of the United Against Torture Consortium, to the Council of the EU Working Party on Human rights (COHOM) on: the EU’s role in facilitating torture-free trade – covering EU member States roles in EU, Council of Europe (CoE) and UN processes, October 2024. With Amnesty International, Harvard International Human Rights Law Clinic, Center for Victims of Torture, and International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, ORF organised a Torture-Free Trade Treaty Summit, London, January 2023. Activists from around the world connected, shared knowledge, and furthered the campaign for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty. More than 30 organisations signed the Shoreditch Declaration calling for prohibitions on manufacture and trade of inherently abusive equipment, and effective human rights-based trade controls on equipment used in torture or other ill-treatment. The Torture-Free Trade Network formed following the Summit includes over 80 civil society organisations worldwide. This directly feeds into EU policy at the UN with the Global Alliance for Torture Free Trade.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
Omega is a member of the United Against Torture Consortium with OMCT, APT, FIACAT, IRCT and Redress. https://omegaresearchfoundation.org/who-we-are/united-against-torture-consortium/ Omega is a member of the Group of Friends of the Convention Against Torture Initiative. Omega is a member of the Torture-Free Trade Network.
Organisation Members
The Omega Research Foundation is not a member organisation but the trustees act as members for the purpose of UK charity law. https://omegaresearchfoundation.org/who-we-are/trustees/
Additional Information
EU funding is the Omega Research Foundation's share of the United Against Torture grants
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.