Academics say France undermines UN mechanisms by urging resignation of rapporteur

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - A group of French academics has accused France of weakening UN human rights mechanisms by calling for the resignation of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, arguing that the pressure threatens the independence of international investigators.

In an op-ed published Tuesday in Le Monde, the scholars said recent criticism of Albanese, who serves as the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, was based on statements “taken out of context” and on an edited video falsely attributing remarks to her.

They stressed that special rapporteurs operate independently under international law and must be able to carry out their mandates without political interference.

Albanese, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022, had her mandate renewed in 2025 for another three years without opposition.

The authors noted that rapporteurs are not UN employees and receive no salary, making them “highly vulnerable to attacks” despite documenting serious human rights violations worldwide, including in Ukraine, Iran, Sudan and Venezuela.

Their only formal protection, they said, derives from international legal instruments granting immunity for statements made in the course of their duties.

They also said accusations echoed by some French lawmakers and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot originated from UN Watch, an organization they described as seeking to discredit UN work related to alleged violations attributed to Israel.

“By publicly calling for the resignation of an independent expert on the basis of unfounded claims … the authorities are weakening UN mechanisms,” the authors wrote, warning that the actions could spread misinformation and create hostility that might endanger the rapporteur’s personal safety.

The scholars argued that countries committed to multilateralism should defend, rather than undermine, independent experts, even when they disagree with their analyses.

They cautioned that France risks setting a negative precedent that could encourage other states to challenge international investigators when their findings are unfavorable.

The controversy began after French lawmaker Caroline Yadan addressed Barrot in parliament on Feb. 11, claiming that during a forum organized by Al Jazeera in Qatar on Feb. 7, Albanese described Israel as “the common enemy of humanity.”

“Mr. Minister, will you confirm that France will make its voice heard for Albanese’s immediate removal from any UN post?” Yadan asked.

Barrot told parliament in response that France “unequivocally condemns the outrageous and reprehensible remarks” of Albanese, which he said targeted “not the Israeli government … but Israel as a people and as a nation.”

Germany, Austria and Italy also reacted to the claims and criticized Albanese.

In France, two separate criminal complaints were filed against senior politicians for allegedly spreading disinformation by distorting Albanese’s statements.