By Koen Van Eijk
AMSTERDAM - A report by UN Watch reveals that the United Nations has covered up misconduct by the controversial UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Complaints about her actions were “whitewashed” by a commission of inquiry consisting of pro-Palestinian friends and supporters of the Italian lawyer, according to UN Watch.
For example, a pro-Hamas group paid her for a lobbying trip to Australia and New Zealand, something that is strictly prohibited. The ‘committee of friends’ also acquitted her of anti-Semitism after Albanese herself had declared that she was not an anti-Semite.
Lawyer Hillel Neuer of UN Watch, an NGO that critically follows the work of the UN, is in the Netherlands on Wednesday to present his research, including to MPs.
Albanese trip sponsored by pro-Palestinian club
Albanese, UN rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, made a pro-Palestinian lobbying tour of Australia and New Zealand in November 2023, something that falls outside her official work. Her predecessors limited their foreign trips to Israel’s neighboring countries for their research.
An Australian pro-Palestinian group proudly reported that it had ‘sponsored and supported’ her trip. But the UN code of conduct prohibits “mandate holders from accepting favors, gifts or allowances from non-governmental sources.” “A flagrant violation,” Neuer said in his report.
UN Watch filed a complaint, which, after lengthy denial by the UN, eventually led to an investigation by a committee consisting of friends, supporters, and close colleagues of Albanese.
Heartfelt embrace
Neuer mentions the committee member Tlaleng Mofokeng, who has worked closely with Albanese. Mofokeng, who was assigned to investigate Albanese, wrote on social media on May 27: ‘I’m not afraid to say it!!!! Yes!!!!! Power to you, Francesca’.
On April 5, 2025, Mofokeng tweeted her love for Albanese with a photo of her and her Italian friend in a close embrace. That the committee cleared Albanese of any blame is therefore not surprising, Neuer thinks. Shortly afterwards, her second term as UN rapporteur was confirmed.
‘Ms. Albanese lied and the UN lied to protect her’
Neuer: “This whole affair comes down to a coordinated cover-up. Ms. Albanese lied, the UN lied to protect her, and a biased internal commission served as a mechanism to hide wrongdoing, evade accountability, and guarantee her renewal.”
Her anti-Semitic statements are also a source of concern for UN Watch. Albanese downplayed Hamas’s terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. France, Germany, the US and Canada condemned statements by Albanese. SGP MP Diederik van Dijk spoke of ‘anti-Semitic dung’.
The Netherlands did not support Albanese’s reappointment
These complaints were also examined by Albanese’s committee of friends. They concluded after ‘extensive explanation by Albanese’ that her expressions were not anti-Semitic. “The commission has thus absurdly relied on Ms. Albanese, the person accused of anti-Semitism, to confirm that she is not an anti-Semitic person,” Neuer said.
The Netherlands did not support the reappointment of Albanese. Earlier, Minister Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs) refused to receive her. The GL-PvdA parliamentary group did receive her.
UN Watch calls for an immediate independent investigation into Albanese’s conduct.
🇳🇱 In @telegraaf: “A new report by UN Watch reveals the UN covered up misconduct by controversial rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Complaints about her actions were ‘whitewashed’ by an investigative committee made up of her pro-Palestinian friends and fans.” https://t.co/BJW6I0TgFz pic.twitter.com/L5ebyuoPZY
- UN Watch (@UNWatch) May 15, 2025
