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Three Flemish Universities Jointly Honor UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

02 April, 2026.Gaza Genocide.9 sources

Key Takeaways

Three Flemish universities will confer an honorary doctorate on Francesca Albanese on April 2, 2026.
Ceremony takes place in Antwerp, organized jointly by VUB, University of Antwerp, and Ghent University.
Protests by Jewish groups and calls for resignation by several European governments occurred.

Historic Joint Honor

Three Flemish universities jointly awarded an honorary doctorate to Francesca Albanese, marking a first in Flanders.

“On April 2, 2026, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the University of Antwerp, and Ghent University will jointly award Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, an honorary doctorate”

21News

Albanese was praised for her exceptional commitment to human rights despite controversy.

21News

The decision ignited protests, particularly from Jewish organizations accusing her of antisemitism.

Controversy and Condemnation

The Forum of Jewish Organizations called for the universities to reverse their decision.

At least one professor resigned in protest, and others described it as institutional activism.

belganewsagency.eu

The Catholic University of Leuven declined to join the award.

Student Protests and Hypocrisy Accusations

The ceremony was met with pro-Palestinian student protests.

“The Vrije Universiteit Brussel will award an honorary doctorate to Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer specializing in human rights and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories”