Abstract

This article examines kinetic energy impact projectile ammunition, reviewing the technical background (with special emphasis on forensic medical literature), which accounts for its risks to the health and physical integrity of protesters, as well as the challenges the ammunition presents in relation to the protection of human rights. Misnamed "non-lethal ammunition", this article details the decades of evidence that has been compiled on the potential lethality of kinetic impact projectiles, explains how they have increased levels of police brutality, and highlights international guidelines regarding their use in order to comply with international standards on human rights.