On March 26, 2025, UN Watch invoked UN procedure 8/PRST/2, noting that “Ms. Albanese’s breaches of the Code of Conduct are widespread, systematic and grave. She repeated makes inflammatory and antisemitic statements that violate the fundamental principles of impartiality and integrity required of special procedure mandate-holders.” In response, numerous countries joined UN Watch’s demand for Albanese’s position as a UN official to be terminated.
The following is a partial compilation of statements by government officials and international organizations calling out antisemitism by UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese. See also UN Watch’s 60-page report on Albanese from October 2024, Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.
As shown below, France has rightly called on the UN Human Rights Council to “draw all consequences” from her “failure to respect the minimum rules of ethics and professional conduct of the United Nations system,” and yet the UN has failed to remove her.
United States
• The U.S. Government (July 9, 2025): “[The U.S. Government is] imposing sanctions on Francesca Paola Albanese. Albanese has spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism, and open contempt for the United States, Israel, and the West.”
• The U.S. Permanent Mission to the UN (July 1, 2025): “The United States reiterates our request that the Secretary-General directly condemn Ms. Albanese‘s activities and call for her removal as Special Rapporteur.”
• The U.S. Government (June 20, 2025): “Ms. Albanese has engaged in years of virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism, conduct which renders her unfit to serve as Special Rapporteur and must be condemned. The United States strongly opposed the renewal of Ms. Albanese’s appointment, warning that it would demonstrate a disregard for the code of conduct for Special Rapporteurs and bring further disgrace to the United Nations.”
• U.S. Congress, Bipartisan Letter of 11 Representatives (June 10, 2025): “Special Rapporteur Albanese has a vile and extensive history of outlandish antisemitic statements and an extreme bias against Israel. Ms. Albanese, as reported by UN Watch and The Jerusalem Post, has received and accepted around $20,000 in payment from pro-Hamas groups to fund her trips to Australia and New Zealand in late 2023.”
• U.S. Justice Department (May 19, 2025): “[Albanese’s] silence and selective outrage send a chilling message that Jewish lives are worth less, that violence against Jews is excusable, and that terrorism can be rationalized when the victims are Israeli… [Albanese’s] conduct has discredited [her] position and disgraced the institution [she] represent[s].”
• U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (April 4, 2025): “Francesca Albanese has shown the world and the @UN that her main goal is to continue to spread her disgusting hatred against the Jewish people and the U.S. should not subsidize this scourge.”
• The U.S. Government (April 3, 2025): “We condemn [Ms. Albanese’s] virulent antisemitism, which demonizes Israel and supports Hamas. She has clearly violated the UN’s code of conduct and is unfit for her role. Her reappointment would show the @UN tolerates antisemitic hatred and support for terrorism.”
• U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (March 31, 2025): “Ms. Albanese unapologetically uses her position as a UN Special Rapporteur to purvey and attempt to legitimize antisemitic tropes, while serving as a Hamas apologist.”
• U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield (July 26, 2024): “There is no place for antisemitism from UN-affiliated officials tasked with promoting human rights. While the United States has never supported Francesca Albanese’s mandate, it is clear she is not fit for this or any position at the UN.”
• U.S. Ambassador to the UNHRC Michèle Taylor (July 26, 2024): “UN Special Rapporteur @FranceskAlbs’s comparison of Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler is reprehensible and antisemitic. There should be no place for such dehumanizing rhetoric. Special rapporteurs should be striving to improve human rights challenges, not inflame them.”
• U.S. Congress, Bipartisan Letter of 11 Representatives (January 23, 2023): “We write to you today to express our opposition to Ms. Francesca Albanese continuing to serve as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories […] You have stated that ‘there is no room for antisemitism in the UN,’ but it seems you do have room for Special Rapporteur Albanese and others who have repeatedly made statements that are antisemitic. Failure to take meaningful action on repeated instances of antisemitism by UN officials undermines the UN’s credibility. We urge you to demonstrate that the UN is capable of genuinely addressing antisemitism by removing Ms. Albanese from her post.”
• U.S. House Representative Kathy Manning (December 16, 2022): “[Albanese’s rhetoric has been] completely unacceptable and frankly shocking. […] She made statements that were not true in her application which I think calls her fitness for that position into question. […] There’s also a code of conduct for mandate holders and I think she has violated that code of conduct.”
• U.S. Public Delegate to UNGA Andrew Weinstein (December 16, 2022): “This report about UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese is appalling. Antisemitism should have no home at the United Nations.”
• U.S. Ambassador to the UNHRC Michèle Taylor (December 14, 2022): “We are appalled by recently uncovered antisemitic remarks on social media made by a UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur before taking on the role. References to the ‘Jewish Lobby’ are an age-old trope; this is outrageous, inappropriate, corrosive, & degrades the value of the UN.”
• U.S. Special Envoy on Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt (December 14, 2022): “Such blatant antisemitic rhetoric–particularly when it’s an established pattern–is simply unacceptable. It severely undermines the credibility of the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur to deal with the issue of human rights in the context of Israel & the Palestinian territories”
Canada
• Canada’s Special Envoy on Combating Antisemitism Deborah Lyons (October 30, 2024): “As a former UN official, as the Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, and as a Canadian, I am horrified to see a United Nations Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, engage in Holocaust distortion and inversion.”
• And March 2024: “The horrific bias and cruelty in this statement [by Albanese] taints the work of the UN. I encourage our leaders to make clear that we find this unacceptable and intolerable. All UN member nations must confront and push back on global institutionalized discrimination, including antisemitism.”
• Canadian Minister Ya’ara Saks (October 24, 2024): “Antisemitism has no place anywhere, especially not in the UN by someone with a duty to uphold human rights. The comments made by Francesca Albanese are abhorrent and not fitting of a Special Rapporteur.”
• Canada’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva (October 24, 2024): “The recent remarks by Francesca Albanese are unacceptable and incompatible with her duty of impartiality, probity and good faith as an independent Special Rapporteur. Antisemitism has no place anywhere.”
• Canadian Parliament Member and Special Advisor on Antisemitism Anthony Housefather (October 17, 2024): “Francesca Albanese has a long history of using antisemitic tropes. It is absolutely baffling to me that the United Nations condones her behaviour and does not remove her from her position.”
The horrific bias and cruelty in this statement taints the work of the @un. I encourage our leaders to make clear that we find this unacceptable and intolerable. All UN member nations must confront and push back on global institutionalized discrimination, including antisemitism.… pic.twitter.com/x9jl8W9WvL
— Deborah Lyons (@DeborahLyonsSE) March 11, 2024
Germany
• German Member of Parliament Daniela Ludwig (April 1, 2025): “Anyone who downplays the Islamist terror by Hamas and wants to legitimize the thousand-fold murder of Jews as democratic resistance is no longer bearable.”
• German Member of Parliament Jürgen Hardt (April 1, 2025): “Under Francesca Albanese, her office became an obstacle to the peace process. This failure must not burden Israel and the Palestinians for another term of office.”
• German Parliament Member Gitta Connemann (July 25, 2024): “Francesca Albanese again. Her comparison of the Israeli Prime Minister with Adolf Hitler is disgusting. Her anti-Semitic phrases are a disgrace for the UN. She must go…”
• German Parliament Member Frank Müller-Rosentritt (July 25, 2024): “Francesca Albanese is a disgrace to the UN. I call on the German government to work with other countries to achieve her immediate removal.”
• German Parliament Member Frank Müller-Rosentritt (June 9, 2024): “A disgusting commentary on the successful release of the hostages. Francesca Albanese must finally be removed from her position as UN Special Reporter! Germany must not support this blatant one-sidedness, demonization and delegitimization of Israel.”
• German Foreign Ministry (February 11, 2024):“Full support to @francediplo. To justify the horrific terror attacks of 7/10 & deny their antisemitic nature is appalling. Making such statements in a UN capacity is a disgrace and goes against everything the United Nations stand for.”
France
• Actions Avocats, an Association of 200+ French Attorneys (April 2, 2025): “Ms. Albanese has repeatedly made public statements, taken positions, and engaged in ac9ons that can be regarded as fundamentally contrary to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity that should guide the consideration of any renewal of her mandate…” (Original in French)
• 42 French Parliamentarians (March 28, 2025): Ms. Albanese’s reappointment “would send a regrettable signal to victims, human rights defenders, and states committed to credible multilateralism.”
• French Foreign Ministry:
-
- “The October 7 massacre is the largest anti-Semitic massacre of the 21st century. Disputing it is a mistake. Seeming to justify it, by including the name of the United Nations, is a shame. These comments [by Francesca Albanese] are all the more scandalous since the fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of racism are at the heart of the founding of the UN.” (February 11, 2024)
- “We reiterate that Ms. Albanese does not speak on behalf of the United Nations system. In the past, we have been concerned by some of her problematic public positions and her rejection of the anti-Semitic nature of the October 7th terrorist attacks.” (March 26, 2024)
- “The United Nations must be a forum for fighting hate speech and antisemitism, which have no place anywhere. Words matter. The Human Rights Council must draw all the consequences of this failure to respect the minimum rules of ethics and professional conduct of the United Nations system.” (October 18, 2024)
-
“France has condemned, and will continue to condemn, any statement by the Special Rapporteur that it deems unacceptable. The fight against antisemitism and all forms of racism is essential for France, which remains uncompromising on this issue. France has asked the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Presidency of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for reforms to ensure the impartiality of the special procedures, particularly in terms of public communication. Her mandate was renewed for three years at the end of the 58th session of the HRC, which concluded on April 4, 2025. Renewal at the end of a first three-year mandate is automatic, at the request of the mandate holder, and does not involve consultation of States. Only the finding, on the basis of complaints, of a violation of the code of conduct of the special procedures, by the dedicated coordination committee of the HRC, can allow the President of the HRC to submit to the Council the possibility of not renewing the mandate. That was not the case, and we regret it. We call on the President and the Bureau of the HRC to do everything possible to ensure that mandate holders demonstrate restraint, moderation and discretion so as not to compromise the integrity of their mandates, the public recognition of their independence, or the preservation of the environment necessary for the calm exercise of their functions.” (April 8, 2025)
Ms. Francesca Albanese’s statements on October 14 are unacceptable. The United Nations must be the place to fight hate speech and anti-Semitism, which have no place anywhere. Words have meaning. The Human Rights Council must take full action against the failure to respect the minimum rules of ethics and professional conduct of the United Nations system.
United Kingdom
• British Member of Parliament David Taylor (April 1, 2025): “Albanese’s response to the largest antisemitic massacre of the 21st century…in a UN capacity is abhorrent and does so much damage to communities already torn apart by horrific violence, going against everything the United Nations stands for.”
The Netherlands
• The Dutch Government (March 26, 2025): “Several of her social media statements are at odds with the Code of Conduct. The Cabinet disapproves of these expressions. The Cabinet does not support Albanese’s possible reappointment.”
Italy
• Italy’s former Deputy Foreign Minister Guglielmo Picchi (March 31, 2025): “I call on the Italian Government to ask UNHCR president Jurg Lauber to stop the planned reappointment as special rapporteur on human rights in Palestinian territories of Francesca Albanese this Friday, April 4th.”
European Union
• 10 European Parliament lawmakers formally oppose reappointment of Francesca Albanese for promoting terrorism and antisemitism.
• European Parliament Member Miriam M. Lexmann (December 15, 2022): “Appalling Antisemitic rhetoric from the UN Special Rapporteur. Ms Albanese must resign and apologise. A sad reflection on today’s state of the UN system that a Special Rapporteur was on human rights engages in such blatant Antisemitism.”
Hungary
• The Government of Hungary (April 1, 2025): “…the extension of Special Rapporteur Albanese’s tenure would send a regrettable message to victims, human rights defenders and those committed to credible multilateralism.”
Argentina
• The Government of Argentina (March 28, 2025): “Argentina supports [the State of Israel’s] concerns… and underlines the importance of the Special Rapporteurs adhering to the provisions of the Code of Conduct…”
Israel
• The Government of Israel (March 24, 2025): “Francesca Albanese continuously engages in blatant antisemitic behavior and discourse, pedaling narratives that are dangerous for the Jewish people and detrimental to the fabric of societies as a whole.”
• Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva (December 14, 2022): “Antisemitism is a persistent malice that has infected the United Nations Human Rights Council for far too long. Comments made by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese that surfaced today are yet another stain on the credibility of this body and yet another example of the impunity that exists today regarding antisemitism and antisemitic comments made by UN officials.”
Albania
• Albania’s former Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo (April 1, 2025): “An antisemitic & pro Hamas rapporteur would discredit (further) the UN Human Rights Council. I call on [the Albanian] Government to act accordingly.”
Institutions and Organizations
• American Jewish Committee (March 31, 2025): “The continued appointment of Ms. Albanese sends a deeply troubling signal to Jewish communities worldwide, to the victims of antisemitic violence, and to all states and civil society actors who believe in a multilateralism rooted in integrity and universality.”
• World Jewish Congress (March 27, 2025): “The World Jewish Congress strongly calls upon the Human Rights Council to reject the renewal of Ms. Albanese’s mandate. We urge the Council to immediately appoint a new Special Rapporteur whose embodies fairness, objectivity, and a genuine commitment to peace, justice, and the equal dignity of all peoples.”
• Anti-Defamation League (March 28, 2025): “ADL has documented numerous instances where Ms. Albanese has made inflammatory and antisemitic statements, undermining the principles of impartiality and integrity required of her role as set out by UNHRC resolution 5/2. ”
Other major organizations have also made statements condemning Albanese, including: NGO Monitor, Stand With Us, the Adam & Gila Milstein Family Foundation, Acción y Comunicación sobre Oriente Medio – ACOM, B’nai B’rith International, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and FDD.
On July 30th, 2024, seven major Jewish organizations from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Untied States also issued a joint statement opposing Albanese. These organizations included: Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA), Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF), Central Council of Jews in Germany, Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
