UN personnel association condemns misinformation campaign and calls for solidarity with Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

United Staff for Gaza, a private association of current and former UN staff members acting in their private capacities, has issued a public statement of support for Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, in the face of sustained political attacks.

Albanese, who recently delivered a pre-recorded address to the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha on “The Palestinian Cause and the Regional Balance of Power in the Context of an Emerging Multipolar World,” spoke about the systemic complicity of the international community in the genocide of Palestinians. Her remarks addressed global financial, media, and arms trade structures, which she described as “the common enemy of humanity.”

Shortly after, fabricated clips and images circulated online, falsely claiming that she had called Israel itself “the common enemy of humanity.” These distortions were picked up by French and German Foreign Ministers, along with ministers from Austria, Italy, and Czechia, who publicly condemned her and called for her resignation – despite clear evidence that her words had been misrepresented.

United Staff for Gaza strongly condemned this wave of disinformation, noting that it fits into a broader effort to undermine the UN’s ability to protect Palestinian human rights. The statement also highlighted sanctions against Albanese and other UN officials by the United States, as well as violence and obstruction directed at UNRWA by Israel.

The association called on governments to retract misinformed condemnations, reaffirmed the importance of protecting UN mandate-holders in their legitimate duties, and stressed the urgent need for the international community to speak out against ongoing human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank.

The statement concludes with a clear call for unity: support Francesca Albanese, defend the integrity of UN special procedures, and stand with UN personnel and institutions committed to human rights and humanitarian law.

DiEM25 fully endorses this position and reiterates its unwavering support for Francesca Albanese. Her courage, clarity, and commitment to justice are vital at a moment when attempts to silence voices documenting the Palestinian plight are intensifying.

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