UN decries personal attacks and disinformation targeting special rapporteur Francesca Albanese

United Nations officials on Friday expressed concern about mounting personal attacks and misinformation directed at special rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

At the briefing, a reporter asked whether the UN Human Rights Office and the spokesperson shared concern about attacks on Albanese. Steph said Albanese "has been placed on unilateral sanctions, by the U.S.," and stressed that special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council. She emphasized that special rapporteurs are "covered by the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations" and that UN officials should not face personal attacks, threats or sanctions while performing their mandates.

Reporters raised a specific recent doctored video and a wider campaign of misinformation. One reporter described jump cuts and obvious edits in a circulated video that falsely attributed statements to Albanese. Steph said she had read the transcript of Albanese's remarks and reiterated that member states should address concerns about special rapporteurs through the Human Rights Council.

"We have been firm defenders of the concept and the architecture of special rapporteurs," Steph said. She added that while UN officials may disagree with independent experts, "threats are unacceptable on any target," and the UN will continue efforts to fight disinformation that clouds public judgment on conflicts and human-rights matters.

The spokesperson encouraged journalists to consult full transcripts before amplifying excerpts and offered the UN's readouts and transcripts as reference.