Gaza war: Palestinian group calls out UN special adviser Alice Nderitu for inaction

A coalition of Palestinian human rights organisations is disappointed by what it describes as a failure by UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, to fulfil her mandate where the conflict in Gaza is concerned.

In a scathing letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the organisations highlight an apparent lack of action from the office of the special adviser despite repeated warnings from other UN mechanisms.

"We write to express and articulate our deep disappointment concerning the failure of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms Alice Wairimu Nderitu, to fulfil the duties outlined in her mandate," states the letter signed by a dozen organisations including Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Defence for Children International-Palestine, and The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.

It criticises the absence of any meaningful action from Nderitu's office in response to sustained mass atrocities endured by Palestinians in Gaza and questions her ability to execute her mandate effectively and impartially.

"The observed shortcomings in the fulfilment of the special adviser’s mandate are apparent when considering the warnings issued by alternative mechanisms within the UN," the letter adds.

The organisations cite warnings by various UN Special Rapporteurs, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

"The fact that other mechanisms within the UN system have proactively raised alarms regarding the impending risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza underscores a notable lapse in the effectiveness of the special adviser’s efforts," they say in the letter.

The coalition further raises concerns about the impartiality of the special adviser and her capacity to withstand external political pressures, biases, or potential manifestations of anti-Palestinian sentiments.

"The failure of the international community, including Ms Alice Wairimu Nderitu, to prevent Israel’s genocide in Gaza, has tangible consequences on the ground," the letter notes.

In a statement on October 15, 2023, Nderitu, a Kenyan citizen, expressed "strong condemnation" at the situation in and around Gaza, noting "the very serious risk of military escalation in the region".

She added that the holding of Israeli hostages by Hamas was unacceptable and acknowleged the vulnerability of Palestinian and other civilians "remaining in or fleeing their homes in light of ongoing and escalating risks of violence irreversibly affecting them".

Nderitu said, “A cease-fire must be called immediately for constructive dialogue to be possible. No effort should be spared to take a step forward in the direction of peace. It is only through dialogue that the underlying issues that have led in the past to cyclical violence can be addressed, as they must.”

The special adviser, however, has not issued a statement on the Gaza situation since then, as noted by the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.

🧵4 months into Israel's genocide in #Gaza, it's now evident that the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention (@UNOSAPG) have failed to fulfil their mandates.

We penned a letter to @antonioguterres, demanding an immediate enquiry: pic.twitter.com/338PnpeU9z

— Al-Mezan الميزان (@AlMezanCenter) February 7, 2024

The organisations have requested an urgent inquiry into the reasons behind Nderitu's perceived shortcomings and the immediate appointment of a new Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect.