had a presence on the ground in the camps (diplomatic, intelligence, and/or military), though this is disputed by the British Government. The UK has an ongoing relationship with the SDF as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS. Additionally, the US maintains that it is willing to facilitate repatriation efforts. 7. The UK has a systematic policy of depriving women in the camps of their citizenship. Up-to-date numbers on how many women have been deprived of their citizenship have not been made publicly available. This has rendered a number of women de facto stateless on the basis that no other country will take responsibility for them even if it is claimed that they have another nationality or can acquire one. On 20 November 2020, the British Government responded to say, in summary: 56 1. The British Government does not recognise RSI’s figure (at point 1, above) of 35 British children and 15 British women in al Hol and Roj camps, but due to the circumstances on the ground it is are not in a position to make an accurate estimate of the number. 2. The British Government considers the safety and security of the facilities and wellbeing of those detained to be the responsibility of the AANES. It expects all parties to the Syrian conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including to provide the necessary access for humanitarian organisations to reach those in need. The British Government has raised its concerns about humanitarian access and supply in North East Syria at sever UN-level meetings and has spent over £3bn since February 2012 to help people in need within Syria and refugees in neighbouring countries. 3. The British Government considers any decision in relation to the continued detention, transfer or prosecution of detainees is ultimately a matter for the AANES. Its priority is to ensure the safety and security of the UK, and individuals who have fought for, or supported Daesh, should face justice and accountability often in the region where the crimes took place. The British Government continue to pursue available avenues with international and regional partners to this end. It considers that any internationallysupported justice mechanism must respect human rights and the rule of law, including fair trials and due process. 4. The British Government is sympathetic to the plight of British unaccompanied minors and orphans in Syria and will seek to facilitate the return of those children to the UK, subject to national security concerns and on a case-by-case basis. The British Government has already facilitated the return of a number of orphaned and unaccompanied British children to the UK but considers that the repatriation process is not straightforward as the UK has no consular presence within Syria from which to provide consular assistance, and difficulties are posed by COVID-19. 5. The British Government considers the threat posed to the UK by adults who travelled to Syria to be best managed outside the UK but considers each case on its own merits. Where individuals do return, the British Government will ensure that they are investigated and, where there is evidence that crimes have been committed, prosecuted. The British Government RIGHTS & SECURITY INTERNATIONAL