GENEVA – A United Nations committee is defending one of its Palestinian rights experts after multiple European governments demanded her removal based on statements she says she never made.
The UN Coordination Committee issued a strong rebuke Tuesday against what it called malicious attacks targeting Francesca Albanese, the organization’s special rapporteur for Palestine. The committee accused European officials of spreading false information about the Italian lawyer’s comments.
Over the past week, government ministers from Germany, France, Italy, and the Czech Republic have called for Albanese’s removal from her position. The controversy began when Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka posted on social media Friday, claiming Albanese had described Israel as a “common enemy of humanity” and demanding her resignation.
However, a Reuters review of transcripts from Albanese’s February 7 speech in Doha found no evidence she used those words, though she has been a consistent critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The six-member UN committee, which oversees the work of special rapporteurs, accused the European ministers of relying on fabricated information.
“Instead of demanding Ms Albanese’s resignation for performing her mandate…these government representatives should join forces to hold accountable, including before the International Criminal Court, leaders and officials accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza,” the committee stated.
The panel warned that the pressure against Albanese represents a growing pattern of politically driven attacks targeting independent human rights investigators, UN staff, and international court judges.
The Trump administration has also taken action against Albanese, imposing sanctions after she sent correspondence to American companies, alleging their involvement in human rights violations by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.
Special rapporteurs like Albanese work independently from the UN itself, though they are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to investigate and report on specific human rights situations.
While no special rapporteur has ever been removed mid-term, diplomatic sources indicate that member states of the 47-nation council could theoretically propose such action. However, they noted that strong Palestinian rights support within the council makes successful removal unlikely.
