Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee
Conclusion 7
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy
Published 4 Apr 2023
Paragraph 25
Addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Foreign Affairs Committee The FCDO’s approach to state level hostage situations All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
By identifying and articulating the nature of detentions, the Government would have the option to put arbitrary detentions on a lane of engagement distinct to other diplomatic priorities with the detaining country. This could allow for creative solutions unconstrained by other bilateral objectives and expand the limited toolbox available to the consular directorate. It would allow the case to be segregated from wider geopolitics and bilateral negotiations, something the aggressor may not welcome.
From: Foreign Affairs Committee, Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy (HC 166), paragraph 25, 4 April 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 6 July 2023 (deadline 4 June 2023).