Please watch our video to find out about our essential work. Created with support from HelpFilm

What We Do

Hostage International provides specialist assistance to people affected by kidnappings and arbitrary detention worldwide. Our comprehensive approach helps individuals, families and organisations navigate these challenging situations. We are not involved in resolution but fill a much-needed gap in helping people understand how these incidents are resolved. We help to make sense of any difficulties along the way and offer on-going support after release.

News and Views

Hostage International - ‘A club that nobody wants to be part of’ Page Image

‘A club that nobody wants to be part of’

Former hostages meet up for group support  In September 2024, a unique group of individuals joined together for a day to share their experiences and provide mutual support around having been held hostage. Organised by Hostage…

Hostage International - 20For20:Challenge for All – Mother and son duo sign up Page Image

20For20:Challenge for All – Mother and son duo sign up

Philippa Grant, who is in her eighties, from Hertfordshire, and her son Craig Grant (43), have talked about their desire to help raise funds for Hostage International so are taking on the 20for20: Challenge for All….

Hostage International - Are you ready for a challenge? Page Image

Are you ready for a challenge?

In 2004 our charity was founded in a bid to support the families of hostages, and hostages after they return. As such, 20 years on, this September we are holding a virtual challenge to help raise…

Hostage International - Hostage International adds expertise on panel looking at the complexities of arbitrary detention Page Image

Hostage International adds expertise on panel looking at the complexities of arbitrary detention

Our CEO, Lara Symons, contributed to a panel event at the UN Human Rights Council on Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations: Building Global Solidarity Against Hostage Diplomacy on 26 June 2024.  Speaking on the side event’s…

My Experience

Hostage International - My experience: I wanted to hold a memorial for my dad to highlight the wonderful man he was Page Image

My experience: I wanted to hold a memorial for my dad to highlight the wonderful man he was

David Haines, a humanitarian worker, was among 26 hostages captured in Syria by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2013, before being murdered in September 2014. His daughter, Bethany, was 16 at the…

Hostage International - My experience: After release it was amazing to have Hostage International on hand so quickly Page Image

My experience: After release it was amazing to have Hostage International on hand so quickly

Bernard, an Irish-French tourism consultant with a love of Iran, was working with a local friend and tourism operator researching a new potential tour of the country when he was picked up by police and taken…

Hostage International - My Experience: Hostage International helped us do something constructive with this horrible experience Page Image

My Experience: Hostage International helped us do something constructive with this horrible experience

Canadian Robert Hall cashed in his life savings, bought a boat and sailed her halfway across the world to be with the woman he loved. He was a devoted father, brother, grandfather, uncle and a talented…

Hostage International - My experience: Living a happy and constructive life beyond In Amenas Page Image

My experience: Living a happy and constructive life beyond In Amenas

16 January 2013 is a date that Nick Hitch was convinced he would not survive when militants linked to Al-Qaeda attacked the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria where he worked as a manager. A decade on,…