UN clarifies Special Rapporteurs' independence after Guterres interview

The United Nations has clarified statements made by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding UN special rapporteurs, asserting that he did not claim they are "out of control." Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, explained that Guterres was referring to the independent nature of the rapporteurs' work, which operates outside the direct control of the UN Secretariat.

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I think it's a misreading of what the Secretary-General said.

This clarification addresses reports, including those in The Jerusalem Post and the Financial Times, which suggested Guterres had admitted that several UN special rapporteurs were "totally out of control" concerning their views on Israel. Dujarric stated, "I think it's a misreading of what the Secretary-General said." He elaborated that many within the UN structure are independent of the Secretariat and, therefore, "totally out of the Secretariat's control… out of the Secretary-General’s control."

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What he said in the interview, and I think people should look at the video, is that he can't speak for the entirety of the UN system. Many in the UN structure are independent of the Secretariat and therefore totally out of the Secretariat's control… out of the Secretary-General’s control.

Dujarric emphasized the UN's commitment to defending the rapporteurs' independence and their right to express their views. "We defend their right to work," he continued. "We will always do so. But, given their independence, it is not for the Secretary-General to say, 'we like what this rapporteur says, we don't like what this rapporteur says,' right? They're independent. Their strength is in their independence."

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We defend their right to work. We will always do so. But, given their independence, it is not for the Secretary-General to say, 'we like what this rapporteur says, we don't like what this rapporteur says,' right? They're independent. Their strength is in their independence.

In the same interview with the Financial Times, Guterres also strongly denied any institutional bias against Israel within the UN. "I totally refuse the idea of bias," he stated, adding that the UN has been "on the right side of history" by defending peace in the Middle East. He described the situation as one where two peoples must find a way to coexist, suggesting reconciliation is the best path forward.

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I totally refuse the idea of bias.