Benjamin Davis, a 62-year-old Spanish American director at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has launched an appeal against his dismissal, alleging it was motivated by his stance on hunger in Gaza. Davis was informed his employment would end on September 30 at the request of director-general Qu Dongyu. The FAO cited breaches of international civil service standards, which require staff to act with impartiality. Davis has rejected the allegation, stating he was disciplined without due process for speaking up about a subject at the core of FAO's mandate.
Davis has worked at the FAO for 26 years on a renewable contract. He claims his dismissal is linked to staff activism over the Gaza war. Davis was one of hundreds of employees who joined moments of silence for hunger victims in Gaza, where an international hunger-monitoring system used by UN agencies determined famine in August 2025. He also authored a report on food availability in the Palestinian enclave in May 2025. Under UN rules, staff are allowed to express political opinions but must ensure these do not adversely affect their official duties or UN interests.
The dispute burst into public view when Qu Dongyu defended the dismissal of an unnamed staff member at a FAO conference. Qu accused the staff member of having "played the political game". He stated, "We will not allow you to play the game here of human rights." This has prompted fresh debate about whether UN employees are able to express views on humanitarian crises without jeopardising their careers.
A large crowd of staff gathered at FAO headquarters in Rome to applaud Davis as he departed. The case is now with the FAO's internal justice process and could later be escalated to a UN tribunal, which has the authority to award damages in employment disputes. Davis, who was head of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, expressed concern that other employees would face retaliation over their participation in the Gaza moments of silence.
The FAO did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Davis's allegations or on the grounds for his dismissal. Davis stated he feels it's a terrible injustice and has been disciplined for speaking up about a subject at the core of FAO's mandate about the right to food, which is the most basic of human rights.
The incident has exposed tensions within the Rome-based organisation. Under UN rules, staff are allowed to express political opinions but must ensure these do not adversely affect their official duties or UN interests. The case has raised questions about the balance between expressing views on humanitarian crises and maintaining impartiality in the workplace.
Davis's appeal will be heard through the FAO's internal justice process. The outcome of the appeal and its implications for Davis and other UN employees remain to be seen. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the role of activism in the workplace and the limits of free speech for UN employees.
Key points
- Davis alleges his dismissal was motivated by his stance on hunger in Gaza.
- The case has exposed tensions within the FAO over staff activism and impartiality.
- The outcome of Davis's appeal and its implications for UN employees remain to be seen.
