17 February 2026
The Coordination Committee of the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council today
condemned vicious attacks, rooted in disinformation, by
several State Ministers against Francesca Albanese, the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the
Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
“We
denounce actions by Ministers of certain States to rely on
manufactured facts and criticise Ms Albanese for statements
that she never made at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum,” the
Committee said.
The events follow an organised
campaign against Albanese and the imposition of illegal
sanctions against her last year with devastating
consequences to her and her family. The Committee expressed
concerns about an increasing trend of politically motivated
and malicious attacks against independent human rights
experts, UN officials and judges of international courts,
who are pursuing accountability, becoming the new
normal.
“States claiming to uphold human rights,
justice and the rule of law should invest their time and
energy in holding to account perpetrators of egregious human
rights violations, rather than targeting those investigating
and exposing international crimes in an objective way,”
the Committee said.
The Committee reminded States that
the Special Rapporteur is mandated by the UN Human Rights
Council to “investigate Israel’s violations of the
principles and bases of international law, international
humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War … in the
Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since
1967.”
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“Instead of demanding Ms Albanese’s
resignation for performing her mandate in very challenging
circumstances – including persistent intimidation,
coordinated personal attacks and unlawful unilateral
sanctions – 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 said.
The Committee encourages
all States to reflect on how they have contributed to
lawlessness and world disorder by enabling, encouraging or
defending the illegal actions of the Government of
Israel.
“States must look in the mirror and
undertake urgent course correction. States must choose to
stand on the right side of history.”
“We stand in
solidarity with Ms Albanese and with the people of Palestine
who have been suffering unlawful occupation, apartheid and
ongoing genocide,” the Committee
said.
