Experts Raise Concern Over Staff Treatment
United Nations experts have urged the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to uphold human rights principles and protect staff after concerns about officials who worked on food insecurity and starvation in Gaza.
The experts said remarks by the FAO director-general appeared to link the departure of senior officials with their engagement on human rights issues. They warned that such a connection could create uncertainty among staff documenting hunger and humanitarian conditions.
Food Security Work Part of Agency Mandate
Documenting starvation and food insecurity, the experts said, is consistent with the FAO’s mandate to combat hunger and should not be treated as a breach of impartiality. They cautioned that potential reprisals could foster a climate of fear and undermine confidence in the United Nations.
The experts called on the agency to uphold the UN Charter and protect employees carrying out their work. They also urged member states to hold the organisation’s leadership accountable to its human rights commitments.
The concerns could shape the selection of the next FAO director-general, due in 2027. The experts said human rights standards should be central to that process.
Source: Middle East Monitor
