Francesca Albanese has revealed that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has not spoken to her since the U.S. announced its unprecedented decision to sanction the so-called UN human rights expert.
Asked in an interview with the pro-Hamas Middle East Eye if Guterres had reached out to her, a visibly upset Albanese responded: “Never! Never heard from him. No — Not now, not before. And I don’t think after.”
The admission exposes the icy relations between Guterres and Albanese that were first brought to light by former U.S. Special Envoy on Antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, who said that the Secretary-General privately called Francesca Albanese a “horrible person.”
Guterres Failed to Denounce Her
Yet despite this private disdain, Guterres has failed to act on repeated calls by the United States government, and by UN Watch, to remove Albanese from her post following condemnations for antisemitism by the U.S., France, Germany, and Canada, nor has the UN chief been willing to even make a statement denouncing her violations of the UN code of conduct.
“The United States strongly opposed the renewal of Ms. Albanese’s appointment earlier this year, warning the Secretary-General that it would demonstrate a disregard for the code of conduct for Special Rapporteurs and bring further disgrace to the United Nations,” said the U.S. Mission to the UN in a statement.
“Ms. Albanese’s malignant antisemitism and support for terrorism is conduct which renders her unfit to serve as Special Rapporteur… 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 lack of such action to date has enabled Ms. Albanese to pursue her campaign of economic warfare targeting entities across the world.”
By enabling Albanese’s reappointment in April 2025 and refusing to take action against Albanese’s hate, terrorism support, and financial misconduct, Guterres has allowed the world body to reach a new level of shame.
