Plus-size UN Special Rapporteur for HEALTH leaves role after angering with accusations of being pro-Hamas and pro-prostitution

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:20, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 19:20, 30 June 2026 A South African doctor who served as the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health left her role after a tenure riddled with controversy. Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020 and completed the maximum term of six years in the role. On June 17, Mofokeng delivered her final report and called on countries to adopt 'anti-racist' and 'anti-colonial' health policies. 'The failure of states to adopt an anti-racist, anti-colonial, and dignity-based approaches through extractive capitalistic practices, pillaging of resources, coloniality, genocides, and then crushes people under the weight of indignity. Health cannot be realized without dignity,' she said. After receiving heaping praise, Mofokeng was confronted by UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer over her many controversial remarks. Neuer called out Mofokeng for publishing an article in Teen Vogue titled 'Why Sex Work Is Real Work.' In the article, she wrote that 'some people may have fantasies and kink preferences that they are able to fulfill with the services of a sex worker,' and 'in some ways, aren’t we all [sex workers]?' 'Given the widespread exploitation, trafficking, and abuse in the prostitution industry, do you still stand by those remarks?' Neuer asked. South African doctor Tlaleng Mofokeng, who served as the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, was confronted over her controversial remarks UN Watch released a report in a May highlighting Mofokeng's anti-Israel ideology, pro-Hamas sentiment and promotion of prostitution UN Watch, a non-governmental organization that monitors the UN, released a report in May that highlighted Mofokeng's anti-Israel ideology, pro-Hamas sentiment and promotion of prostitution. In one post on X included in the report, Mofokeng wrote, 'From the river to the sea Palestine will be free.' Mofokeng defended Hamas in another post, writing, 'Armed struggle against colonization is not terrorism.' In a third post, she wrote, 'That Hamas are not terrorists is fact.' While the UN does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization, many countries, including the United States and the European Union, do. After Neuer confronted Mofokeng, she responded, 'And in the face of fierce, personal, targeted attacks, incitement of violence against me, escalating into domestic spaces as professional harassment and intimidation, both in real life and in online spaces, I stand here today with very few answers to the grand scale of human suffering.'  Mofokeng's remarks received praise from the Palestinian Delegation, the Arab Group, Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International and other groups. 'We also commend your courage in documenting genocidal acts perpetrated in Gaza,' the Planned Parenthood representative said. Mofokeng was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020 and completed the maximum term of six years in the role this year The Amnesty International delegate added, 'We commend the Special Rapporteur for calling for the decriminalization of abortion and sex work. 'She has recognized Israel’s genocide. We call on this Council and its Special Rapporteurs to build progressively on Dr. Mofokeng’s considerable legacy of body of work.' The Daily Mail contacted Mofokeng and the United Nations for comment. The comments below have been moderated in advance. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.