'Attacks and threats against Special Procedures mandate holders, as well as key institutions like the International Criminal Court, must stop,' says Volker Turk
The UN human rights chief on Thursday urged "the prompt reversal" of US sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory.
"UN Special Rapporteurs, along with other parts of the human rights ecosystem, address – by their nature – sensitive and often divisive issues that are of international concern," Volker Turk said in a statement, adding even in the face of fierce disagreement, member states should engage "substantively and constructively, rather than resort to punitive measures."
"Attacks and threats against Special Procedures mandate holders, as well as key institutions like the International Criminal Court, must stop," Turk urged.
He noted that the solution is "not less, but more," debate and dialogue on the very real human rights concerns they address.
The US imposed sanctions Wednesday on Albanese, citing her "efforts to prompt" International Criminal Court (ICC) action against US and Israeli officials.
"Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt (ICC) action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.
Accusing Albanese of waging a "campaign of political and economic warfare" against both countries, he said the actions "will no longer be tolerated."
The sanctions followed a report by Albanese last week that identified corporations allegedly facilitating Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, including Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Palantir, which she said provide military hardware, surveillance technology, and infrastructure that support the illegal occupation.
The US has long been criticized for supporting Israel's ongoing occupation and genocide of Palestinians, which since October 2023 has killed over 57,000 people, most of them women and children.
