This statement applies to hostagenation.com. The site is a web-native political report maintained by the Hostage Nation project team.
We want as many people as possible to be able to read and use this site, and we have built it with accessibility in mind from the start rather than as an afterthought.
Using this website
The site is built as a custom theme following some of the accessible patterns of GOV.UK Design System, with a chapter-per-page structure and a consistent heading hierarchy. You should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts using your browser or device settings
- zoom in up to 400% without text spilling off the screen or needing to scroll sideways [confirm reflow at 320px width]
- navigate most of the site using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the site using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the site using a screen reader
We have also kept the writing as plain as possible, translating technical and financial terms the first time they appear.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability: https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk
How accessible this website is
We believe most of the site is accessible, but some parts are not yet fully accessible, including:
- some data visualisations and infographics may not yet have complete text alternatives, so their content may not be available to screen reader users – text descriptions are available below most visualisations
- the newsletter signup form is provided by a third party (Mailchimp) and we do not fully control its markup, so parts of it may not meet the same standard as the rest of the site
- any downloadable PDF of the report, if offered, has not yet been checked for accessibility
Feedback and contact information
If you cannot access any part of this site, or you need content in a different format such as an accessible document or plain text, contact us at contact@hostagenation.com.
We will consider your request and aim to reply within [e.g. 5 working days].
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Hostage Nation is committed to making its website accessible. As an independent publication rather than a public sector body, we are not covered by the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, but we have chosen to follow the same standard.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, based on our own assessment.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
- Data visualisations: where an infographic conveys information only through the image, this fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content. We plan to add text alternatives or accessible data tables.
Content not within scope
- The embedded Mailchimp signup form is third-party content we do not author directly.
- The cover artwork is decorative and is described by its alt text and the surrounding text.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
- Adding or completing text alternatives for all data visualisations and infographics
- Site search is planned for version 1.1, which will give an additional way to find content
Preparation of this statement
This statement was prepared on 21 September 2026. It was last reviewed on 21 September 2026.