J7 Task Force Statement on Francesca Albanese’s Latest Antisemitic Remarks and Call for UN Human Rights Council Reforms

New York, February 18, 2026 —- Following the latest antisemitic remarks by UN Special Envoy Francesca Albanese, the J7 Large Jewish Communities Task Force on Antisemitism—representing the Jewish communities of Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States— express its support to the call by numerous governments calling on Ms. Albanese to resign, and further urge a comprehensive reform of the special rapporteur structure and oversight by the UN Human Rights Council.

Throughout her tenure, Ms. Albanese has demonstrated a persistent pattern of antisemitic statements
and anti-Israel bias, including Holocaust inversion and comparisons, resorting to age-old tropes, denying antisemitic violence and legitimizing terror against Jews and Israelis which renders her fundamentally unfit to represent the United Nations in any capacity.

Most recently, On February 7, 2026, speaking at an Al Jazeera forum in Doha alongside Hamas leader
Khaled Meshaal and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Ms. Albanese stated that “we as a humanity have a common enemy,” remarks widely understood to designate Israel as the enemy of all humanity. While she later claimed to reference “the system,” her words—delivered in that company and forum—were
unambiguous in their malign intent and effect.

These statements flagrantly violate the UN Special Procedures Code of Conduct, which requires
impartiality, objectivity, and personal discretion. Ms. Albanese has repeatedly failed to meet this
standard.

We commend the governments of France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and the United States, which have called for her resignation. We urge the remaining J7 governments worldwide to on the remaining J7 governments to unequivocally condemn Ms. Albanese’s statements and demand her immediate removal or resignation.

Furthermore, the fact that Ms. Albanese was reappointed in April 2025 despite widespread objections
from governments and non-governmental organizations exposes a profound failure in the UN system.
We call on the UN Human Rights Council to undertake immediate and substantial reforms, including:

1. Rigorous vetting of all candidates for Special Rapporteur mandates to disqualify individuals with demonstrable bias toward the subjects they are tasked to investigate and report on;

2. A swift, transparent, and non-transactional removal process for mandate-holders who violate theCode of Conduct, ensuring accountability without compromising legitimate independence.
The credibility of the United Nations and its Human Rights Council depend on impartiality, integrity, and the rejection of antisemitism in all its forms. Ms. Albanese’s continued tenure makes a mockery of these principles. The time for half-measures has passed. We demand action.

About the J7 Task Force on Antisemitism: The J7 brings together the leading Jewish communities and organizations from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States to combat antisemitism, promote Jewish security, and advocate for shared values in the international arena.

J7 Members:
Argentina: Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA)
Australia: Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ)
Canada: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
France: Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF)
Germany: Central Council of Jews in Germany
The United Kingdom: Board of Deputies of British Jews
The United States: ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations