Recommendation 35

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.