GENEVA - 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."
"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.
