Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Paragraph: 43
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible...
Recommendation
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.
Government Response 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.
Paragraph Reference:
43
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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.