Alicia Kearns, a Conservative Member of Parliament and former Foreign Office official, is on a mission to change the way the United Kingdom deals with its citizens who are arbitrarily detained abroad. Armed with her knowledge of how the Foreign Office operates and a strong resolve to see reforms implemented, Kearns is leading the charge to ensure that families of detained Britons receive the support they need during these challenging situations.
The Push for a Special Envoy
One of the key recommendations in the “Stolen Years” report, which Kearns helped publish, was the appointment of a special envoy for hostage affairs. This role, inspired by the US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, would provide a singular focus on securing the release of arbitrarily detained British citizens. However, the Foreign Office rejected this recommendation, much to Kearns’ frustration.
I have never come across a part of the Foreign Office that is more belligerent or unwilling to be reformed, or to accept reform in some way.
– Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP
The Importance of a Focused Approach
Kearns argues that having a dedicated individual to handle these cases would allow for a more focused approach, removing the geopolitical considerations that often complicate matters. She believes that a special envoy would be better equipped to identify potential solutions, such as prisoner swaps, and work towards bringing detained citizens home.
Resistance from the Foreign Office
Despite the change in government following the recent UK general election, Kearns has not been impressed with the new Labour government’s willingness to take up cases or bring in reforms. She claims that the civil service is strongly opposed to the idea of a special envoy, making it difficult to push through the necessary changes.
Continuing the Fight
Undeterred by the resistance she faces, Kearns continues to advocate for the families of detained Britons. She has conducted hearings with the son and lawyers of Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong businessman and activist currently imprisoned in China, as well as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was incarcerated in Iran until her release in 2022. Kearns plans to make fresh recommendations to improve the Foreign Office’s handling of these cases and intends to conduct an annual review of the department’s progress.
International Collaboration
Recognizing that arbitrary detention is a global issue, Kearns aims to work with other countries whose citizens face similar challenges. She plans to hold an inter-parliamentary conference in early 2025 to bring together lawmakers from various nations and encourage them to prioritize supporting their citizens who are arbitrarily detained abroad.
The medium-term goal is early next year to hold an inter-parliamentary conference so we can bring in other parliaments, and say you need to have a similar focus so that you can support people from your country that are being arbitrarily detained.
– Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP
The Road Ahead
As Alicia Kearns continues her fight to reform the way the UK deals with arbitrarily detained citizens abroad, she faces significant challenges from a resistant Foreign Office. However, her determination to see changes implemented and her commitment to supporting the families of those detained remain unwavering. With her knowledge of the inner workings of the Foreign Office and her position as a respected voice on foreign affairs, Kearns is well-positioned to continue pushing for the reforms she believes are necessary to ensure that no British citizen is left behind when facing arbitrary detention abroad.
The road ahead may be long and fraught with obstacles, but Alicia Kearns’ dedication to this cause serves as a beacon of hope for the families of detained Britons. As she works to build international support and pressure the Foreign Office to adopt a more focused and effective approach to these cases, the potential for meaningful change grows. The question remains: will the Foreign Office ultimately heed Kearns’ call for reform, or will the status quo prevail? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Alicia Kearns will not rest until she sees the changes she believes are necessary to protect and support British citizens arbitrarily detained abroad.
