Francesca Albanese is Here to Stay!

Nu Madi Jobarteh

Yesterday, April 5 the United Nations Human Rights Council voted overwhelmingly to extend Francesca Albanese’s mandate as Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories for another three years. At its 58th session in Geneva, the Council decided to keep this remarkable human being despite intense and longstanding opposition and pressure from pro-Israel governments, personalities, and advocacy groups.

Albanese’s confirmation came in the midst of severe propaganda by many US, European and Israeli fronts key among which is a so-called NGO called ‘UN Watch’. They claim to be a human rights, antisemitic and pro-democracy organization. They describe themselves thus on their website, “UN Watch is a non-profit organization dedicated to holding the United Nations accountable to its founding principles. UN Watch is funded entirely by charitable donations.”

They had submitted a 60-page document to the UN Human Rights Council in October 2024 entitled, “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” which they claim documents the “abuses and misconduct” of Francesca Albanese.

In their dossier, they listed a number of countries, groups and individuals who oppose the re-appointment of Francesca Albanese as special rapporteur (https://lnkd.in/eGfgT3bN).

The countries which oppose Francesca’s appointment include, shamefully, the US Government which describes Francesca as an antisemitic, anti-Israel and a Hamas supporter, the Netherlands of all places which is the capital of justice of the world, and Hungary and Argentina which are led by racist fascists anyway. One needs not mention that Israel’s genocidal regime is itself in opposition.

Then the other opponents include, disgracefully the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, 42 French parliamentarians, and a bunch of racists and homophobes including Italy’s former Deputy Foreign Minister Guglielmo Picchi, German Members of Parliament Daniela Ludwig and Jürgen Hardt, and the British MP David Taylor.

UN Watch claims to uphold UN principles yet they ignore the fact that Israel has violated more UN principles than any nation. As they claim to fight for human rights, they have no issue with the Israeli occupation and genocide in Palestine. Joining them in their ridiculous propaganda and genocide enabling is the US organization, Anti-Defamation League!

Notwithstanding, the vast majority of the people of the world know better and have done the right thing to keep Francesca Albanese in her post.

Here is her last report to the UN General Assembly in October 2024 detailing succinctly the violations of the apartheid regime in Israel against Palestinians: ‘Genocide as colonial erasure – Report of Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967’ (https://lnkd.in/eBFsKjtR)