Rights defenders rally support for UN expert after US sanctions
The United States has imposed sanctions on the top UN expert on Palestinian rights, prompting an outcry from human rights defenders.
Human rights defenders rallied on Thursday to support the top UN expert on Palestinian rights, following the US decision to impose sanctions on her over criticism of Israel.
Italian lawyer Francesca Albanese serves as special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, appointed by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council.
She has criticized Israeli treatment of Palestinians and accused over 60 companies, including some US firms, of supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Albanese would be added to the US sanctions list for her work, which he described as prompting illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Washington to reverse its decision, stating that even in the face of disagreement, UN Member States should engage constructively rather than resort to punitive measures.
Juerg Lauber, the Swiss permanent representative to the UN and current president of the Human Rights Council, expressed regret over the sanctions and called on states to refrain from any acts of intimidation or reprisal against the council's experts.
Mariana Katzarova, special rapporteur for human rights in Russia, expressed concern that other countries might follow the US lead, considering it an attack on the UN system as a whole.
The US has previously imposed sanctions on officials at the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister for suspected war crimes in Gaza.
Another court, the International Court of Justice, is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Israel denies committing war crimes or genocide against Palestinians during the conflict in Gaza, precipitated by an attack by Hamas-led fighters in October 2023.
Human Rights Watch's international justice director, Liz Evenson, stated that the US sanctions aim to dismantle norms and institutions on which survivors of grave abuses rely.
The former head of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, described the sanctions as an attempt to deter prosecution of Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.
The US has previously accused the Human Rights Council of anti-Israel bias and disengaged from it under President Donald Trump.
Italian lawyer Francesca Albanese serves as special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, appointed by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council.
She has criticized Israeli treatment of Palestinians and accused over 60 companies, including some US firms, of supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Albanese would be added to the US sanctions list for her work, which he described as prompting illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Washington to reverse its decision, stating that even in the face of disagreement, UN Member States should engage constructively rather than resort to punitive measures.
Juerg Lauber, the Swiss permanent representative to the UN and current president of the Human Rights Council, expressed regret over the sanctions and called on states to refrain from any acts of intimidation or reprisal against the council's experts.
Mariana Katzarova, special rapporteur for human rights in Russia, expressed concern that other countries might follow the US lead, considering it an attack on the UN system as a whole.
The US has previously imposed sanctions on officials at the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister for suspected war crimes in Gaza.
Another court, the International Court of Justice, is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Israel denies committing war crimes or genocide against Palestinians during the conflict in Gaza, precipitated by an attack by Hamas-led fighters in October 2023.
Human Rights Watch's international justice director, Liz Evenson, stated that the US sanctions aim to dismantle norms and institutions on which survivors of grave abuses rely.
The former head of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, described the sanctions as an attempt to deter prosecution of Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.
The US has previously accused the Human Rights Council of anti-Israel bias and disengaged from it under President Donald Trump.
