In the face of the serious attack by the United States, we want to express our solidarity with Francesca Albanese

The United States' Statement of Mission to the United Nations against the mandate of Francesca Albanese as UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967 on July 1, 2025, constitutes an attack on the independence and role of one of the main guarantee and monitoring of the United Nations systems of respect for the human rights and the rights of peoples. A vital pillar of the international justice system.

It also constitutes a direct attack on a person who is carrying out her duties with great professionalism and impartiality, which find their legal basis in the principles and norms set out in the United Nations Charter, international human rights law and the relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly.

Whoever attacks Francesca Albanese attacks the centrality of the UN and the entire multilateral architecture for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Whoever attacks Francesca Albanese attacks all the victims and survivors of human rights violations and war crimes and crimes against humanity that the State of Israel is committing in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The attack on Francesca Albanese is part of a broader and strategic attack by the United States against the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

We are faced with subversive acts equal to a coup d'état. An international coup against justice, democratic legality and international law. And therefore freedom and peace.

Today, the responsibility to investigate and punish crimes is a legal obligation for States. Neither political reason nor reason of state can be invoked to not respect this obligation. No one can be above the law.

The behaviour of the United States erodes the international rule of law, which is crucial for promoting global justice and human security.

We strongly reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence and impartiality of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967.

The Human Rights Centre “Antonio Papisca” of the University of Padua and the PerugiAssisi Foundation for the Culture of Peace resolutely support the Special Rapporteur's operational continuity in ending impunity, promoting the rule of law, enforcing international human rights law and international criminal law.

We do so empowered by a dual mandate. The one solemnly enshrined in the preamble of the United Nations Charter when it states "we the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person".

And the equally solemn one enshrined in Article 1 of the United Nations Declaration "on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms", the Magna Carta of Human Rights Defenders, which states: "Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels."

Marco Mascia, President of the Human Rights Centre “Antonio Papisca”, UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, Democracy and Peace, University of Padua (Italy)

Flavio Lotti, President of the PerugiAssisi Foundation for the Culture of Peace, Perugia (Italy)

Padova/Perugia, 3 July 2025

The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide” (A/HRC/59/23) made public on June 30, 2025 and can be viewed here.

PerugiAssisi Foundation for the Culture of Peace 

Via della Viola 1 (06122) Perugia - Tel. 335.1401733

email adesioni@perlapace.it - www.perlapace.it - www.perugiassisi.org 

Human Rights Centre “Antonio Papisca”, University of Padova

Via Beato Pellegrino, 28 – Padova - Tel 049 827 1811

email centro.dirittiumani@unipd.it - https://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/