Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee
Conclusion 35
Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy
Published 4 Apr 2023
Paragraph 101
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)
State hostage taking is not only a humanitarian outrage, but an attempt to undermine the Rules Based International Order. As a country that has committed to protect the RBIO, standing up for the rule of law and the protection of human rights, it is incumbent on the Government to hold other states to their commitments— particularly when it applies to UK nationals. It is important that the Government makes clear that state hostage taking is a humanitarian offence and does not shy away from public statements to this effect on specific cases.
From: Foreign Affairs Committee, Sixth Report - Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy (HC 166), paragraph 101, 4 April 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 6 July 2023 (deadline 4 June 2023).