UN experts urge food agency to uphold human rights amid concerns about Gaza-related work

UN experts on Tuesday urged the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to uphold human rights and protect staff following concerns about the treatment of officials who worked on food insecurity and starvation in the Gaza Strip. The experts expressed concern about remarks by the FAO director-general that appeared to link the departure of senior officials to their engagement with human rights issues. “Human rights principles are not peripheral to the FAO's mandate; they are central to it,” said the experts. They said documenting starvation in Gaza was consistent with the agency’s mandate to combat hunger and did not constitute a breach of impartiality. The experts warned that potential reprisals could create a climate of fear among staff and undermine the UN’s credibility. They urged the FAO to uphold the UN Charter and for member states to hold its leadership accountable. They also said human rights commitments should be central to the selection of the next FAO director-general in 2027.