Sri Lanka has joined a group of cross-regional countries in addressing a letter to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, expressing concern over unilateral sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories.
The letter was co-signed by Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Iceland, Namibia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Geneva.
The group condemned attacks—particularly on social media—against Albanese and other UN Special Procedures Mandate Holders, calling them unjust and intended to discredit those revealing violations of international law.
“The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Special Procedures had earlier expressed concern at the relentless and intensifying social media attacks against independent United Nations’ experts, staff and specialized agencies. These unwarranted and unjust attacks, which we unequivocally reject, seek to undermine the legitimacy and credibility of the UN Special Procedures Mandate Holders, particularly of those exposing the truth about grave violations of international law,” the letter said.
They reiterated the importance of maintaining the independence of UN mandate holders and warned that punitive actions against them undermine the Human Rights Council’s legitimacy.
The letter also recalled protections under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and urged all member states to interact constructively with special procedures in line with UNGA resolution 60/251. (Islandnews)
