On Monday, March 3rd, 2017, Mr. Abdel-Qader al-Husseini Chairperson of the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN), sent a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres concerning his decision to pull the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) report on the Israeli practices towards the Palestinian people and the question of apartheid. Taking due account of the pressures that compelled ESCWA’s Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf to resign over the retraction of the report accusing Israel of apartheid, the letter voices AMAN’s concerns about the current position of the UN, which shall stand to be a key neutral and integral guardian of human rights and whistleblowers under pressure all over the globe.
Mr. al-Husseini highlighted that the ex-officio role of the UN to protect and safeguard human rights is a sine-qua-non of the confidence the peoples of the world have in the UN, especially, the oppressed and the persecuted. This raison d’être is almost ubiquitous across UN literature, legal documents, reports, and international conventions.
Al-Husseini further asserted that the integrity, professionalism and impartiality of any legal personality or intergovernmental organization are contingent on the staff’s adherence to the value system of integrity, professionalism, and absolute impartiality. Furthermore, the UN corpus lays down standards of conduct to ensure the integrity, impartiality, and accountability of international staff members. This corpus consists of several international covenants and conventions, especially, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Such conventions apply to the staff of international organizations, who shall abide by these international rules, remain strictly impartial and stand up for the truth and nothing, but the truth. What’s more, the UN Whistleblower Policy clearly recognizes the paramount significance of whistleblower protection.
AMAN Chairperson added, “The resignation letter submitted by ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf voices her conscience that cannot rest at peace with the formal request by UN Secretary-General to withdraw the ESCWA report that asserts Israeli apartheid practices against Palestinians. The report could not see the light of day without the tremendous efforts of ESCWA experts. UN Chief’s decision is a serious cause for apprehension and concern over the fact that such an international organization is not immune to pressures, threats, and political interventions. This casts grave shadow over the value system of impartiality and professionalism the UN preaches to the World.” In plain English, if such corruption suspicions are confirmed, we shall be ready to stand against this form of political corruption.
On behalf of the local chapter of Transparency International in the occupied Palestinian territories, AMAN, Mr. al-Husseini appealed to UN General Secretary to assume his role and responsibilities in an absolute impartial and natural manner in the face of all pressures, threats and political influences. On a final remark, he called for UN’s Chief to revoke his decision on the withdrawal of the ESCWA report on the Israeli practices towards the Palestinian people and the question of apartheid.
