Appendix A: Current Needs and Requests from Former Hostages and Hostage Families

This appendix presents a list of current needs and requests expressed by former hostages and their families. The needs and requests are not listed in order of importance but are grouped by category. Although, not all of these needs necessarily fall under the purview of the government, they are listed here for reference.

• To the extent desired, involvement of families in the development of all strategy related to their relative’s recovery efforts.
• Assistance in handling and speaking to captors.
• Utilization of former U.S. Presidents, U.S. Vice Presidents, or U.S. Secretaries of State to act on behalf of hostage victims.
• Advanced notice of proposed recovery options. Families would like to have the unrestricted right to veto any proposed action with which they disagree.
• For high ranking U.S. government officials to make public statements demanding the release and return of their loved one.
• For the government to fill positions at the Hostage Response Group and State Department with individuals who have greater authority and influence.
• For the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell to utilize more terrorism experts i.e. FBI’s Washington Field Office. Families recommended that the Washington Field Office be utilized more and help equip other field offices with the important background information regarding the terrorist organization and hostage case.
• Assurances from the Department of Justice that the U.S. government has no intention of charging families if they go about raising funds to pay ransom.
• Better definition of what constitutes negotiations with a terrorist organization.
• Clarity and assurance from the Department of Justice that families can negotiate with hostage captors i.e. terrorist organizations.
• For the Department of Justice to grant U.S. hostage negotiators immunity.
• The ability to reduce one’s digital footprint online, i.e. personal information, price or pictures of homes. Captors misuse information as leverage.

• Increased access to hostage related information for hostage families. The default should be full, complete, and timely access to all information and activities known or undertaken by the U.S. government in regard to a hostage case—regardless of security classification, sources and methods excluded as appropriate.
• A list of government services by agency. Families currently receive information from the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell in the Family Resource Guide. However, families have requested a similar guide from the State Department.
• Provision of a more structured timeframe of when the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell will be reaching out.
• Families want to be informed more frequently and have requested regular briefings and debriefings.
• For U.S. government officials to ask families upfront with the frequency in how often they would like to be contacted.
• Families would like the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell to inform families about the importance of having an organizational system and provide assistance in how to keep and store information.
• Family members expressed concerns about being excluded during their loved one’s reintegration process. Family members reported that the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell will no longer work with them, even with the former hostage’s permission.
• Creation of a mechanism to identify and acknowledge unlawful or wrongful detentions of U.S. nationals.
• Creation of an ombudsman group to assist relevant NGOs to identify resources for unlawful or wrongfully detained U.S. nationals.
• Families have requested to be part of vetting the incoming Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

• Location and recovery of loved ones’ remains.
• Bringing of kidnappers to justice.
• To be included in the sentencing considerations if/when captors are brought to justice.
• For the U.S. government to hold foreign governments responsible for the hostage-taking and/or detention of their loved one.

• A reintegration process for loved one being held.
• Information on how to prepare family, specifically younger children, when loved one returns.
• Multiple resources for mental health assistance (outside of the U.S. government or NGOs). Families prefer private practices.
• Mental health/counseling sessions that pair males with males and females with females.

• A proactive capability to assist families in the protection of their loved one's identity and assets should be developed and implemented, to the degree desired by the individual family.
• Assistance in being able to protect hostages’ financial and physical assets if not previously named power of attorney.
• The ability to expunge financial records during the time of captivity.

• Families would like to see an advisory team consisting of NGOs, academics, former ambassadors, individuals with high level foreign and domestic contacts, and an individual to act as a liaison.
• Assistance in developing foreign contacts.
• Advice on reputable security firms.
• Assistance in hiring a security team, families lack the expertise and need assistance in vetting each member.
• Some hostage families would like the opportunity to share their contact information with other hostage families, notwithstanding confidentiality considerations.

• For American hostages and unlawfully detained American citizens to become a national priority.
• Assistance maintaining contacts and organizing materials.
• Support for families in managing day-to-day affairs, having a family coordinator to help family with everyday mundane things.