Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Paragraph: 18
We also recommend that the Government uses its presence on the UN Human Rights Council...
Recommendation
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.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states that the UNWGAD is comprised of independent experts and the UK has no opportunity to influence the recruitment process.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
18
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
16. The Government has looked closely at other models. The Government believes that our 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. It is Ministers, Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary relationships to intervene decisively with a detaining State. In practice, this generally results in a lead point of contact at senior official level (e.g., Ambassador or Envoy), with the Foreign Secretary holding ultimate accountability as the Secretary of State responsible for consular affairs and bilateral relations. Our task force approach ensures that they are supported by the full range of consular, political and geographic expertise.
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