Who Is Francesca Albanese? Senior UN Rapporteur Faces US Sanctions For Work Against Israel
Last Updated: July 10, 2025, 17:43 IST
Francesca Albanese reports on human rights situation in the Palestinian territories (Source: X)
Mark Rubio, the US Secretary of State under Trump 2.0 administration, has announced sanctions on UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Rubio accused Albanese of 'illegitimate and shameful efforts" for criminal prosecutions against the US and Israel. 'Albanese's campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated," read Rubio's post.
Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt @IntlCrimCourt action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.Albanese's campaign of political and economic…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 9, 2025
The sanctions come days after the US wrote an official letter to the UN to terminate Albanese for her engagement with 'virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism". It read, 'Ms Albanese makes extreme allegations, such as that the entities may be contributing to purported offenses including 'gross human rights violations," 'apartheid," and 'genocide"."
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 The U.S. government has formally requested that the United Nations remove pro-Hamas official Francesca Albanese for her 'virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism," for attacking U.S. companies in her new report, and misrepresenting her legal qualifications. pic.twitter.com/X2njJepJQu— UN Watch (@UNWatch) July 1, 2025
Who is Francesca Albanese and what are her views on Israel?
Francesca Albanese is currently engaged with the United Nations as a Special Rapporteur on human rights situation in the Palestinian territories since 1967. Her work includes reporting in areas including the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Appointed in 2022, Albanese works in her independent capacity as an unpaid employee.
In her reporting on human rights issues in Palestinian territories, Albanese has repeatedly criticised Israel, accusing the country of 'genocide" and 'violations of international law". Her views have been supported by several experts and human rights organisations.
In one of her recent reports, she has accused several international institutions and corporate entities is supporting the 'illegal Israeli occupation and its ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza."
An international lawyer, Francesca Albanese said in a post hours after sanctions against her, 'I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done. I come from a country with a tradition of illustrious legal scholars, talented lawyers, and courageous judges who have defended justice at great cost and often with their own life. I intend to honour that tradition."
Just to be sure, on this day more than ever: I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done. I come from a country with a tradition of illustrious legal scholars, talented lawyers and corageous judges who have defended justice at great cost and… https://t.co/Oytoeg5QMo— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) July 9, 2025
Swipe Left For Next Video View all
In the past, Albanese has supported the International Criminal Court's proceedings against Israeli officials for war crimes. She has also urged countries to pressurise Israel for its acts against Gaza. Recently, she has requested the European Union to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
While the implications of the US sanctions against Francesca Albanese are not clear yet, it is possible that she might not be allowed to travel to the US in the coming time. Buzz Staff
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. view comments News world Who Is Francesca Albanese? Senior UN Rapporteur Faces US Sanctions For Work Against Israel Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Varsha Deshpande honoured with 2025 U.N. Population Award for advancing gender equality
Indian women's rights activist Varsha Deshpande has been awarded the 2025 United Nations Population Award in the individual category, in recognition of her decades-long work promoting gender equality and reproductive rights. The announcement was made by the United Nations in New York on Thursday (July 10, 2025), marking the 40th edition of the prestigious global honour. Ms. Deshpande, secretary of the Maharashtra-based Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, was recognised for her pioneering work over more than 35 years to combat gender-based violence and discrimination, particularly gender-biased sex selection. She founded the organisation in 1990 to champion gender justice and empower marginalised women through legal reform, education, and grassroots mobilisation. The UN lauded her leadership in community-driven advocacy and reform under India's Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, aimed at curbing the declining child sex ratio. Through her organisation, Ms. Deshpande has also worked to prevent child marriage, safeguard the rights of women in the informal sector and promote joint property registration for women. 'I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious UN Population Award in recognition of my efforts to address gender-biased sex selection and the declining sex ratio,' Ms. Deshpande said. She described the award as a tribute to the collective efforts of individuals and institutions working for gender justice. 'Humbling and inspiring' 'I sincerely hope this recognition helps renew focus on the critical issue of gender-biased sex selection and reinforces the importance of investing in the value of women and girls. Being counted among those who have made significant global contributions is both humbling and inspiring. It deepens my sense of responsibility to live up to this honour and to uphold the trust placed in me,' she added. Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director for Bhutan, said, 'Varsha's pioneering efforts to build a more equal society are truly commendable. Her dedication to addressing all forms of discrimination — whether based on gender, caste, or religion — has contributed significantly to ensuring that people, especially women and girls, can live with dignity, opportunity, and well-being. I deeply appreciate her passion and commend her courage for working on a sensitive and critical issue like gender-biased sex selection.' The UN Population Award, established in 1981, honours individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health. It includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary prize.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Facing joint Israel-US war in Gaza': Palestine situation is a litmus test for global order, says ambassador Abdullah Abu Shawesh
The Palestine situation is a litmus test for the global order, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, the Palestinian Ambassador to India, told the media in New Delhi on Friday, adding that they are facing a 'joint Israel-US war' in Gaza. Slamming the Western countries for 'giving away their homeland', Shawesh said that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had destroyed two schools and a university library that were built with funding from India. 'There is nothing left in Gaza,' he added. He also criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who met American President Donald Trump recently and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize—and pointed to the 'genocide in Gaza'. Shawesh's remarks were made during an interactive session organised by the Indian Women's Press Corps. 'It is a joint Israel-US war we are facing in Gaza. Israel also has the support of many other Western countries, including the United Kingdom,' he said. Asked about India's stand on the issue, in the light of the fact that it has bilateral ties with both Israel and Palestine, Shawesh said, 'I can talk about it at the macro level…We valued India's position (on it) through the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council and other places. India is still supporting Palestinians.' India had also strongly condemned the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the loss of civilian lives in the Israel-Hamas conflict. India has consistently called for the release of all hostages and emphasised the need for safe, timely and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance, and creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue. The envoy said everyone talks about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, but the people of Palestine had 'suffered' before that. He also referred to the more-than-a-century-old Balfour Declaration and the subsequent chain of events that led to the creation of Israel in 1948. 'The Palestinian question is a quest for a global order; it is a litmus test,' he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future in New York in September 2024 and called for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
On Shooting Of Gaza Aid Seekers, IDF Says 'Lessons Learnt' As Fighting With Hamas Continues
/ Jul 12, 2025, 08:27AM IST A Hamas attack seriously wounded an Israeli tank commander in northern Gaza amid ongoing battles. Meanwhile, Israel admitted it is reviewing incidents after nearly 800 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid, with critics calling US support for Israel a sign of complicity.
