Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
10
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
We recommend biennial meetings of Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Mission of ‘Five Eyes’ countries in states with a record of state hostage taking to discuss live cases and lessons learnt, and to disseminate best practice.
Government response AI summary
The government states that there is already regular (at least biennial) communication amongst diplomatic and consular colleagues from ‘Five Eyes’ countries between capitals and overseas.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
11
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
In cases we have examined, the FCDO has been too slow to identify detentions of concern and to escalate these cases within the department. Any system of rapidly identifying such cases needs to be able to harness the extensive knowledge of the environment held at Post with guidance based on …
Read more
In cases we have examined, the FCDO has been too slow to identify detentions of concern and to escalate these cases within the department. Any system of rapidly identifying such cases needs to be able to harness the extensive knowledge of the environment held at Post with guidance based on the breadth of experience of the FCDO and external expertise.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states that the FCDO already uses a task force approach to harness knowledge and expertise, and trains staff to reassess complex consular cases systematically and escalate them to senior staff without delay.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
14
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible with a full mobilisation response before the person is formally charged. We recommend that appropriate consultation take place to establish a clear system for quickly identifying cases that fall under the criteria to be handled …
Read more
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible with a full mobilisation response before the person is formally charged. We recommend that appropriate consultation take place to establish a clear system for quickly identifying cases that fall under the criteria to be handled by the Director of Arbitrary and Complex Detentions and escalating them to that unit. The FCDO should ensure that it has the in-house capacity and expert capability to negotiate. We recommend that the FCDO prepares advice for families and organisations on the options for engaging a third-party negotiator where the FCDO is unable or unwilling to negotiate with captors, does not recognise the legitimacy of the detaining government, or does not recognise a detention as state hostage taking. The FCDO should constructively work with specialist third-party negotiators and other experts from a very early stage, sharing with affected families as much information as possible.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government believes that their current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained for diplomatic leverage.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
The evidence would suggest that the Government’s use of diplomatic protection in cases of arbitrary detention was badly handled. It was ill thought through and poorly implemented. It is likely that this was due to officials’ discomfort with this approach and a failure to implement it fully. This episode serves …
Read more
The evidence would suggest that the Government’s use of diplomatic protection in cases of arbitrary detention was badly handled. It was ill thought through and poorly implemented. It is likely that this was due to officials’ discomfort with this approach and a failure to implement it fully. This episode serves to illustrate an inconsistent and, at times, clumsy approach by Government.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government believes that the current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
16
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
We recommend that in the next six months the Government learns lessons from the extending of Diplomatic Protection to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and draws up clear guidelines on situations where diplomatic protection could be considered and how it might be employed. If this mechanism is to be used again, we recommend …
Read more
We recommend that in the next six months the Government learns lessons from the extending of Diplomatic Protection to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and draws up clear guidelines on situations where diplomatic protection could be considered and how it might be employed. If this mechanism is to be used again, we recommend that the Government outlines to the family and this Committee from the outset the rationale for its use and means of enforcement.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The Government believes that its current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained for diplomatic leverage.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
19
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
The presumption that “quiet diplomacy” and family silence is always appropriate throughout cases of state detentions and state hostage taking is a false one, other than in the initial phases. Silence abets state hostage taking. We recommend the Government uses the strongest possible language to call out situations of state …
Read more
The presumption that “quiet diplomacy” and family silence is always appropriate throughout cases of state detentions and state hostage taking is a false one, other than in the initial phases. Silence abets state hostage taking. We recommend the Government uses the strongest possible language to call out situations of state hostage taking as soon as it becomes clear detentions are being used for leverage.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and says it already seeks to support families who wish to proceed publicly, assessing options on a case-by-case basis and offering advice while respecting the family's decision.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
21
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting…
Accepted
We recommend that if a family believes their case would be best served by going public, the Government should have frank, detailed and regular conversations with them on the likely impacts of their decision and advise on how to proceed in the safest way possible and support them as they …
Read more
We recommend that if a family believes their case would be best served by going public, the Government should have frank, detailed and regular conversations with them on the likely impacts of their decision and advise on how to proceed in the safest way possible and support them as they pursue that decision.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states it has adopted the task force approach recommended in the Macgregor review to harness the widest possible range of knowledge, experience, and expertise and works with external partners.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office