Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, wrote to António Guterres, the U.N. secretary-general, on Nov. 18 expressing “deep concern” about Reem Alsalem, U.N. special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, denying that Hamas committed such crimes on Oct. 7.
Alsalem wrote on social media on Nov. 14 “denying the sexual violence, torture and gender-based crimes committed during and following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups,” Danon wrote to the U.N. secretary-general in a letter that JNS viewed.
That claim “fundamentally contradicts incontrovertible evidence, including the recent annual report of the secretary-general on conflict-related sexual violence,” Danon wrote.
The Israeli envoy added that a public statement by a U.N. special rapporteur that undermines a report by the secretary-genera “harms the credibility of the United Nations.”
He added that the statement violates several obligations in the U.N. code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders, although “interestingly, Ms. Alsalem does fulfil article 3(g), as her bias against Israel is very consistent.” (That article calls on mandate holders to “adopt a conduct that is consistent with their status at all times.”)
Danon called on Alsalem to apologize publicly to Oct. 7 victims and survivors and said there should be a meeting of the relevant coordination committee to “address the numerous violations of the code of conduct committed by the special rapporteur.”
“This should be followed by a consideration of an alternative candidate for the position of U.N. special rapporteur on violence against women
and girls, someone capable of restoring the mandate’s neutrality, professionalism and credibility, and faithfully upholding its mission to protect and defend the rights of all women and girls everywhere, without exception,” he added.
