Petition seeks EU protection for Francesca Albanese, ICC judges and human rights defenders – Middle East Monitor

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese called for support for a petition urging the European Union to protect human rights defenders and international justice officials who have been targeted by US sanctions.

In a post on X, Albanese said that she, several judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and Palestinian human rights defenders require public support in response to US measures against them. She encouraged supporters to sign and share the petition.

The petition, launched by Courage International, explains that the United States and Israel have targeted Albanese, eight ICC judges, three ICC officials and Palestinian human rights organizations because of their work documenting and investigating violations of international law and war crimes.

According to the petition, US sanctions have resulted in frozen financial assets and the closure of some bank accounts, while also affecting the professional and academic activities of individuals subject to the measures.

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The petition argues that these actions undermine the work of the ICC and those cooperating with it.

Campaign organizers are calling on the European Commission to activate the EU’s so-called “blocking statute,” a legal mechanism intended to protect European individuals and organizations from complying with certain foreign sanctions that have extraterritorial effects.

The petition further calls for protection of Albanese, ICC judges and human rights organizations involved in documenting Israel’s violations in the Palestinian territories, while emphasiSing support for international law and accountability mechanisms.

Supporters of the initiative argue that individuals engaged in documenting human rights abuses and pursuing international justice should be protected from political pressure and punitive measures that could interfere with their work.

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