US lifts sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN expert on Palestinian rights
The US Treasury's OFAC announced it has lifted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian rights. The decision is being read as a notable shift in Washington's relationship with UN human-rights mechanisms and has drawn extensive reaction from international rights groups.
The sanctions on Albanese were part of a broader expansion of measures against UN rapporteurs under the previous administration. In its statement, OFAC said the new decision aims to strengthen 'constructive dialogue with international institutions.' A Treasury spokesperson said the move does not set a template for further specific policy changes.
Albanese has been the UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories since 2022, and her reports have been sharply critical of Israeli policies in the occupied territories. The UN Secretary-General and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had previously voiced concerns over the sanctions. Albanese described the US decision on social media as 'support for the independence of UN rapporteurs.'
EU member states welcomed the decision. Israel's foreign ministry did not issue an official response, while pro-government politicians criticised the move. International rights organisations called on Washington to also review pending sanctions against other UN rapporteurs. The way the Trump administration calibrates its broader relationship with the UN will be closely watched.
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