The following submission by United Nations Watch was made to the Human Rights Council and published as an official document of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council.
A/HRC/59/NGO/331: Objections to the Reappointment of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967
Excerpt: In April 2025, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, shared on her social media a post claiming that the “UN
human rights council voted to keep her in the position as UN rapporteur for the Palestinian territories till 2028!.” In fact, however, no such vote ever took place. At best, Ms. Albanese could possibly claim that several stakeholders consider that her reappointment took place tacitly, in the absence of any vote or debate about her record of non-compliance.
Yet even this claim is not substantiated by the law or the facts. The law is clear. Only one resolution deals specifically with this matter, entitled “Terms of office of special procedure mandate-holders,” which was adopted by consensus in 2008 as UNHRC Presidential Statement 8/PRST/2. This text stipulates: “The President of the Human Rights Council will convey to the Council information brought to his or her attention… concerning cases of persistent non-compliance by a mandate-holder,” and this requirement applies “particularly in advance of reappointments.” The Council is then mandated to “consider such information and act upon it as appropriate.” Only “[i]n the absence of the above-mentioned information,” are the terms in office of the mandate-holders “extended for a second three-year term.” The above constitute clear and binding obligations on the Council and the President and are duly reaffirmed in the Manual of Operations of the Special Procedures.
