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The FCDO’s approach to state level hostage situations

Status: Closed Opened: 1 Apr 2022 Closed: 29 May 2024 21 recommendations 18 conclusions 2 reports

This inquiry will examine the processes and approaches taken by the UK Government in securing the release of the hostages in Iran, and other similar situations. It will assess the likely impact their approach may have on deterring other states from using this tactic and will consider options for multilateral action to further deter such … Show more

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Ninth Report - Combatting state hostage diplomacy: A follow… HC 1915 20 Oct 2023 3 Overdue
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplo… HC 166 4 Apr 2023 36 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
5 Recommendation Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting… Deferred

We also recommend that the Government uses its presence on the UN Human Rights Council...

We also recommend that the Government uses its presence on the UN Human Rights Council to work to safeguard the Rules Bases International System by working to prevent countries which use hostage taking as a tool of diplomacy gaining influence in the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the UNWGAD is comprised of independent experts and the UK has no opportunity to influence the recruitment process.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
32 Recommendation Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting… Deferred

We recommend that a list is prepared of countries where UK nationals face an increased...

We recommend that a list is prepared of countries where UK nationals face an increased risk of arbitrary detention and being taken hostage. This should inform decisions around the escalation of cases as well as the outward facing travel advice. We recommend that updated FCDO travel advice includes clear criteria, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The decision to exercise diplomatic protection formally raised Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case to a state-to-state level, but it did not assist efforts to secure her release as Iran refused to recognise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s British nationality.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
13 Mar 2023 David Rutley · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Jennifer Anderson · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
7 Feb 2023 Mickey Bergman · Governor Richardson Center for Global Engagement, Phil Harper QPM · Sheep One Hundred View ↗
19 Jul 2022 Dr Tatyana Eatwell · Doughty Street Chambers, Hans-Jakob Schindler · Counter Extremism Project (CEP), Rupert Skilbeck · REDRESS View ↗
24 May 2022 Brian Jenkins · Rand Corporation, Rachel Briggs · The Clarity Factory, The Rt Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede View ↗
17 May 2022 Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt View ↗

Who gave evidence

13 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Brian Jenkins · Senior Advisor Rand Corporation 1
David Rutley · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Americas … Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Dr Tatyana Eatwell · Barrister Doughty Street Chambers 1
Hans-Jakob Schindler · Senior Director Counter Extremism Project (CEP) 1
Jennifer Anderson · Director for Consular Affairs Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Mickey Bergman · Vice-President and Executive Director Governor Richardson Center for Global Engagement 1
Phil Harper QPM · CEO and Founder Sheep One Hundred 1
Rachel Briggs · Chief Executive Officer The Clarity Factory 1
Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Former Minister of State for the Middle East Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt — 1
Rupert Skilbeck · Director REDRESS 1
The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon · Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, Sou… Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede — 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Jul 2023 From cttee Letter to the Foreign Secretary relating to the Government Response to the Comm…
6 Jul 2023 — Correspondence with the Minister for Americas and the Caribbean following the F…
28 Mar 2023 — Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the Committee's inquiry o…
8 Sep 2022 — Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the status of Morad Tahba…