The nomination reflects broader concerns over the erosion of international law amid escalating violence in Gaza.
TUNIS — In a move underscoring the enduring relevance of justice and international law in global peace efforts, Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet, recipient of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, has formally nominated Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, for the same award.
The Quartet, which includes the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), the Tunisian National Bar Association, the Tunisian Human Rights League and the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), framed the nomination as a recognition of Albanese’s principled stance and detailed reporting on violations of international humanitarian law, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.
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In their nomination letter, signed on Monday, July 14, and addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the four organisations stressed that “true peace can only be achieved on the basis of justice, international law, human rights and the right of peoples to self-determination.”
They commended Albanese’s “courage and moral clarity” in highlighting what they described as systematic violations in the occupied territories, and described her work as a powerful reminder of the human cost of impunity and political silence.
Among the reports cited in the letter was Albanese’s recent and widely discussed “Anatomy of a Genocide” report, which the Quartet said went beyond legal documentation to become “a human cry against collective punishment, forced displacement and mass killings.” They praised Albanese for choosing to be “a voice for victims, armed only with the force of law and truth,” in a context they described as marked by silence and political bias.
The nomination reflects broader concerns over the erosion of international law amid escalating violence in Gaza and the increasing difficulty of defending human rights in politicised arenas. The Quartet’s move signals a return to the spirit that underpinned their own Nobel recognition, grounded in civil dialogue, constitutional legitimacy and the pursuit of non-violent political resolution.
Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer and international legal scholar, has served as the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since 2022. She is known for her outspoken criticism of what she sees as systemic impunity surrounding the Israeli occupation and her meticulous legal documentation of alleged violations.
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Albanese holds a law degree with honours from the University of Pisa, a master’s in human rights from SOAS University of London and a PhD in international refugee law from the University of Amsterdam. Her professional career includes more than a decade of work in human rights and refugee law, particularly with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Much of her research has focused on refugee protection frameworks and the legal implications of prolonged military occupation. Her tenure as Special Rapporteur has been marked by an effort to foreground the legal dimensions of the Palestinian question at a time when political institutions have struggled to address the worsening humanitarian situation.
The Tunisian Quartet’s nomination also appears to carry an implicit critique of the international community’s inertia in the face of unfolding crises in Gaza and the West Bank. By backing Albanese, the group highlights a preference for legal accountability over political expediency, and aims to reaffirm the foundational principles of the Nobel Peace Prize in a fraught global context.
Whether Albanese’s name will make the final shortlist remains to be seen, but the Quartet’s endorsement lends weight to a growing body of support for her work among civil society organisations, legal scholars and human rights defenders across the globe. It also serves as a reminder that, for many in the Global South, the credibility of the international system hinges on its willingness to speak uncomfortable truths, and honour those who do.
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C. The Arab Weekly
