Monaco joins global alliance to end trade in torture goods
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Monaco has formally signed the political declaration of the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, committing the Principality to banning commerce in goods used for torture or capital punishment.
At a ceremony held in Brussels at the European External Action Service, Monaco's Ambassador to the European Union, Frédéric Labarrère, signed the political declaration of the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade on behalf of the Princely Government. The declaration was originally adopted in New York on the sidelines of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.
The Alliance was created and is co-chaired by the European Union, Argentina and Mongolia. It brings together states committed to prohibiting the trade, manufacture and export of equipment specifically designed for torture, cruel punishment or execution. Monaco's accession places the Principality alongside a growing coalition of nations whose commitment cuts across political, economic and regional lines.
For Monaco, the move is consistent with a longstanding diplomatic posture that punches above the Principality's size on human rights issues within multilateral forums. The signing reinforces the Princely Government's engagement with EU-led international frameworks, even as a non-member state.