In early July, the School of International Studies partnered with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) for an online panel about understanding and responding to state hostage-taking.

This event launched a very special issue of the Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, titled Rethinking responses to hostage diplomacy: A collaborative approach to policy, strategy and practice.

The panel was chaired by Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who guest edited the issue, and comprised three journal contributors:

• Brandon Silver, international human rights lawyer and Director of Policy and Projects at the RWCHR
• Sophie Hunter, policy professional, United Nations (Geneva)
• Dr Dara Conduit, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Melbourne.

Each author discussed the ideas presented in their paper as part of a broader conversation about how to understand and address the phenomenon of hostage diplomacy. This was followed by a thought-provoking discussion and Q&A with the audience.

Understanding and responding to state hostage-taking

Watch the recording of the online panel.