Basic Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement Officials

All governments are required to adopt the necessary measures to instruct law enforcement officials, during basic training and all subsequent training and refresher courses, in the provisions of national legislation in accordance with the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials as well as other basic international human rights standards applicable to law enforcement officials.

These standards should be made available as widely as possible to the general public and fully respected under all circumstances. They should be reflected in national legislation and practice, and regular public reports issued on their implementation. Exceptional circumstances such as a state of emergency or any other public emergency do not justify any departure from these standards.

All governments should adopt an active and visible policy of integrating a gender perspective into the development and implementation of training and policies for law enforcement officials.


Basic Standard 1:

Everyone is entitled to equal protection of the law,
without discrimination on any grounds, and especially against violence or threat. Be especially vigilant to protect potentially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, women, refugees, displaced persons and members of minority groups.

Basic Standard 2:

Treat all victims of crime with compassion and respect,
and in particular protect their safety and privacy


Basic Standard 3:

Do not use force except when strictly necessary
and to the minimum extent required under the circumstances

Basic Standard 4:

Avoid using force when policing unlawful but
non-violent assemblies. When dispersing violent assemblies,
use force only to the minimum extent necessary.

Basic Standard 5:

Lethal force should not be used except when strictly unavoidable
in order to protect your life or the lives of others

Basic Standard 6:

Arrest no person unless there are legal grounds to do so,
and the arrest is carried out in accordance with lawful arrest procedures

Basic Standard 7:

Ensure all detainees have access promptly after arrest to their family
and legal representative and to any necessary medical assistance

Basic Standard 8:

All detainees must be treated humanely.
Do not inflict, instigate or tolerate any act of torture or ill-treatment,
in any circumstances, and refuse to obey any order to do so


Basic Standard 9:

Do not carry out, order or cover up extrajudicial executions or
''disappearances'', and refuse to obey any order to do so

Basic Standard 10:
Report all breaches of these Basic Standards to your senior officer
and to the office of the public prosecutor.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2008