INTERVIEW: Francesca Albanese on being sanctioned and impartiality

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, speaks with raw honesty about being the first UN official ever sanctioned by the United States—placed on a list with Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro—after she publicly accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Despite the personal toll, including being cut off from her American daughter and facing relentless accusations of antisemitism, Albanese remains resolute. A federal judge recently blocked the sanctions, ruling they violated her free speech rights, a moment she describes as 'relieving' but not the end of the fight. In her new book, *When the World Sleeps*, she reveals how her work is rooted not in ideology but in international law and human dignity. She argues that impartiality doesn’t mean neutrality—it means rigorously applying the law, even when powerful states refuse to engage. Far from despair, Albanese sees a global awakening, especially among young people, who she believes can rebuild a more just world through solidarity, not isolation. Her message is clear: the fight for justice isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about choosing humanity.