Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
Experience elsewhere would suggest that having a single point of contact who has a key...
Conclusion
Experience elsewhere would suggest that having a single point of contact who has a key decision-making, or high-level advisory, role outside consular services has the potential to improve the Government’s approach to responding to arbitrary detentions as well as its coordinating efforts in deterring this practice multilaterally. It is also likely such a high-level influencing role would attract high calibre staff with relevant experience. (Paragraph 24) 48 Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy
Government Response Summary
The government agrees there is increasing international concern about the practice of detaining individuals for diplomatic leverage, but says the evidence of increasing risk to British nationals detained overseas is less clear and that avoiding politicisation can be the best route to de-escalation and release.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
7. The Government is clear that any detention for diplomatic leverage is unacceptable no matter how large or small the number of people involved. The Government also agrees that there is increasing international concern about, and condemnation of, this practice. In the case of British nationals detained overseas, the evidence of increasing risk is less clear. The number of cases where the Government judge British nationals are detained arbitrarily overseas for diplomatic leverage remains limited. Not all detentions even in countries of concern are intended to exert diplomatic leverage. The behaviour of the small number of States that have been accused of engaging in such practices can be unpredictable and volatile, and the motivations of detaining authorities are rarely clear or consistent. Even when arbitrary detention for diplomatic leverage is a suspected motivation, avoiding politicisation can be the best route to de-escalation and release.