Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 59
The Government and its allies have missed key opportunities to publicly demonstrate the importance placed...
Conclusion
The Government and its allies have missed key opportunities to publicly demonstrate the importance placed on the release of UK nationals, both privately and in public. The decision of Richard Ratcliffe to begin a hunger strike is perhaps the starkest example of this failure. The onus should be on FCDO officials and ministers to demonstrate to the detaining state and to the families of state hostages that they 50 Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy consider the detention of those concerned as both unjust and an issue that is considered distinct from other diplomatic priorities. Families should never be left to feel that the only way the Government will prioritise their case is by acting against advice and, in some cases, their better judgement, by going to the media and to Parliament.
Government Response Summary
The Government accepts the fundamental importance of early identification and escalation of complex detentions, and states that is why the FCDO has adopted the task force approach recommended in the Macgregor review to harness the widest possible range of knowledge, experience, and expertise.
Paragraph Reference:
59
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
22. The Government accepts the fundamental importance of early identification and escalation of complex detentions, including arbitrary detention for diplomatic leverage. That is why the FCDO has adopted the task force approach recommended in the Macgregor review to harness the widest possible range of knowledge, experience, and expertise, and why we work with a range of external partners and specialist support organisations. Senior diplomatic staff based overseas and in geographic directorates in the FCDO participate in task force meetings in a wide range of cases to help ensure case strategies are tailored to the specific circumstances and context, and that the fullest possible range of levers and options are identified.