WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US state of Missouri must reform its rules on police use of force in order to align them to international norms, a US advocacy group said in a release.
"The state of Missouri must revise its statute on the use of force to bring it in line with international standards," Amnesty International stated on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, the Ferguson Commission released a report demanding St. Louis authorities enact judicial and police reforms in order to calm racial tensions in the area.
Amnesty International USA Executive Director Steven Hawkins said the US government at all levels must respect the lives of US citizens.
"Whether at the federal, state or local level, the government and law enforcement have a duty to respect the rights of all people to be treated equally and have their rights respected," Hawkins stated. "This includes the right to life and security of person as well as the right to peacefully protest."
.@amnesty releases new guide to curb use of unlawful, excessive & #deadlyforce by #police: http://t.co/dK4jDamNiO pic.twitter.com/JpCgY3nExa
— Steven W Hawkins (@StevenWHawkins) September 8, 2015
The US Department of Justice issued two reports in March and July, documenting racial bias by the Ferguson police department and the St. Louis Family court.
President Barack Obama has launched several policy initiatives in the wake of renewed calls to counter racial bias in law enforcement as well as police brutality in general. The initiatives include investing in police body-worn cameras around the country and a plan for addressing economic and societal segregation in US communities.
