If the report regarding the dismissal of Benjamin Davis for highlighting hunger in Gaza is correct, there is only one person who should be dismissed and it is the FAO's director general, Qu Dongyu. I presume that as the head of the a UN agency, he is expected to abide by the terms of the UN Charter. This would include safeguarding the three pillars of the United Nations.
Qu Dongyu is alleged to have said, publicly:
“We are not going to allow you to play the game here of human rights,” “Of course human rights are very important, but they have a human rights agency in Geneva. If you want to take care [of human rights], go there.”
Mr. Qu Dongyu, since you do not seem to know what you are working for, let me remind you of the preamble of the UN Charter:
WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
The Preamble of the UN Charter describes the three pillars of the UN. These pillars are:
➡️Peace and Security
➡️Human Rights
➡️Development
These pillars are interconnected under the rule of law. One cannot be fully achieved without achieving all of them.
The existence of a UN Agency with a human rights mandate (established decades after the adoption of the UN Charter) does not mean that you do not have a responsibility in upholding human rights as well.
Dear
@antonioguterres and
@volker_turk : could you confirm these allegations and, if they are correct, let us know what you intend to do to ensure all heads of UN agencies fulfil the terms of the UN Charter. We stand ready to help.
Many thanks.
Full article here:
theguardian.com/world/2026/o…