What is the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (ICAT)?

The International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (ICAT) is an international law that was adopted in 1979 and is enforced in Washington, D.C. It was created to protect individuals from being taken hostage and to deter the taking of hostages by criminal or terrorist organizations. ICAT applies to all states and is one of the key international laws in the field of international criminal justice. ICAT prohibits the taking of hostages in any form, including those taken in armed conflict. It also prohibits the use of threats and other forms of coercion with the aim of obtaining the release of a person or persons, or of compelling a third party, such as a government, to do or refrain from doing any act. The Convention also requires states to criminalize hostage-taking, to condemn and punish hostage-taking perpetrators, and to cooperate with other states in investigating, prosecuting and extraditing offenders. It also requires states to assist victims of hostage-taking and other acts of hostage-related violence. In order to ensure the effective implementation of ICAT, all states should criminalize hostage-taking, provide appropriate resources and training to law enforcement and other relevant personnel to respond to hostage-taking incidents, and promote international cooperation and exchange of information on hostage-taking. Additionally, states should include hostage-taking as a crime in their national criminal laws and ensure that adequate sanctions are in place.

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What is the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (ICAT)?

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