HE EXEMPLARY ACT OF CONSCIENCE OF THE WEEK: UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s Courage to Document and Report Israel’s Crime of Genocide
- Uğur Karaduman
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
As Volunteers of the Conscience Foundation, we highlight a remarkable act of conscience from around the world each week.
This week’s exemplary act, chosen by our volunteers, is not merely a personal stance. It represents a profound display of legal courage and moral integrity in the face of institutional silence, political pressure, and diplomatic barriers.
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur, and Her Legal Stand Against Genocide
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, brought the issue of genocide in Gaza to the UN agenda more explicitly than ever before through her reports over the past two years.
March 2024: First Warning – “The Anatomy of a Genocide”
In March 2024, Albanese submitted a report titled “The Anatomy of a Genocide” to the UN Human Rights Council. She stated that Israel’s military operations in Gaza provided “reasonable grounds to believe that genocide is being committed.”
The report presented strong evidence on three out of the five acts listed in the UN Genocide Convention:
Killing members of a group
Causing serious bodily or mental harm
Creating conditions intended to destroy the group
Albanese emphasized that Israel’s actions following October 7, 2023, had crossed the threshold of genocide. Her language was legally cautious—she avoided declaring it a “definitive genocide,” but established a compelling “reasonable basis for suspicion.”
July 2025: “No Longer Denied – Genocide is Documented”
In her second report, published in July 2025, Albanese adopted a more direct tone. She declared unequivocally that Israel’s actions now met the definition of genocide and could no longer be hidden.
This marked the first time a UN-level rapporteur made such a clear accusation of genocide.
Not only did Albanese document what was happening in Gaza, but she also took a moral stance in the face of global silence—enduring severe political and diplomatic pressure worldwide after releasing her report.
“Standing by Conscience in the Face of Pressure”
Her stance received harsh responses, especially from the U.S. and Israel:
Israel banned her from entering the country.
The U.S. imposed economic sanctions and added her to its official sanctions list.
She received physical threats and was placed under special security protection.
Despite all this, she did not back down. She did not retract her report or renounce her words. To her, this was not just a professional duty, but a responsibility where law and conscience intersected.
Why Did We Choose This Act?
Because Francesca Albanese chose to speak where silence reigned. Her words were not just legal arguments or diplomatic statements—they were a call to humanity’s collective conscience.
In 2024, she had already issued warnings—but they were ignored. Still, she did not remain silent. In 2025, she turned her earlier warnings into a sobering account of human tragedy, supported by documentation, testimonies, and unwavering determination.
Her report not only recorded what happened but testified to a catastrophe that was allowed to unfold in plain sight.
This was not a routine legal report. It was the decision of a conscience that refused to be silent, even in the most fragile moments. Francesca Albanese’s stance went beyond personal courage. It showed us that even when international justice falters, it is still possible to stand on the side of truth and humanity.
Because sometimes, conscience means choosing isolation, exclusion—even punishment—to defend the truth.
And that is why, this week, we honor Francesca Albanese’s courage, resolve, and unwavering commitment to humanity as our Act of Conscience of the Week.
Comments