AT WMF 2026

SPECIAL GUEST

FRANCESCA ALBANESE

The Italian voice of international law and human rights arrives in Bologna

A jurist, an international lawyer and United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights on the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967, Francesca Albanese will be a special guest at WMF – We Make Future 2026.

From June 24th to 26th in BolognaFiere, on the WMF Mainstage, she will bring her testimony and her perspective on the role of law, justice, and international responsibility in building a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive future.

At a time marked by geopolitical crises, conflicts, inequalities, and profound technological transformations, her presence at the WMF strengthens the event's vocation as a global platform for encounter, dialogue, and discussion between institutions, businesses, civil society, research, activism and innovation.

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An international lawyer at the center of the global debate on human rights

Born in Ariano Irpino in 1977, Francesca Albanese trained in Italy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. After graduating in Law from the University of Pisa, she earned a master's degree in Human Rights from SOAS University of London and furthered her studies in international refugee law with a doctorate from the University of Amsterdam.

Her career combines academic research, fieldwork, and commitment to international institutions. She has conducted research at Georgetown University in Washington and Erasmus University in Rotterdam, collaborating with United Nations agencies, governments, and non-governmental organizations in the Middle East and North Africa.

Her work focused in particular on the protection of human rights, the protection of civilians, the rights of refugees and migrants and the implementation of international norms in favour of the most vulnerable communities.

UN Special Rapporteur:

an independent mandate

Since 2022, Francesca Albanese has served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights on the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967, becoming the first Italian woman to hold this position.

Her mandate is strictly independent: she doesn't represent the Italian government or any other national executive. Instead, she operates as an expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, document, and report on human rights conditions within the territories covered by her mandate.

Her work involves legal analyses, official reports, and dialogue with governments, international institutions, local communities, civil society organizations, and academic entities. It's a role that demands rigor, independence, and the ability to bring to the attention of the international community violations, critical issues, and responsibilities that are often at the center of intense political tensions.

International law, truth and responsibility

In recent years, Francesca Albanese’s name has become central to the international debate on Palestine, particularly following the 2023 escalation and the progressive worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Her reports have analyzed the impact of Israeli policies on fundamental rights, such as freedom of movement, access to resources, protection of the civilian population, economic development, and the self-determination of the Palestinian people.

In 2025, with her report "From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide", Albanese delved into the role of economic mechanisms in the Israeli occupation. She analyzed how military, technological, and prison apparatuses—alongside natural resources, economic activities, and international supply chains—can contribute to maintaining systems of control, segregation, and the violation of fundamental rights.

Her work has generated significant attention, support, criticism, and intense political pressure. It is precisely this exposure that makes her presence at the WMF a vital opportunity to address a crucial question: what role must international law, institutions, and civil society play when facing the major crises of our time?

An independent voice

in the international debate

Francesca Albanese’s work has drawn contrasting reactions from governments, media, institutions, and international organizations. While her positions have been supported by numerous NGOs, academics, and human rights experts—who recognize her independence and authority—they have also been contested by political and institutional actors who have criticized her language and conclusions.

In 2025, sanctions imposed against her by the U.S. administration opened a further front of international debate regarding freedom of expression, the independence of UN mandates, and the protection of critical voices within the multilateral system.

The subsequent temporary suspension of these sanctions by a federal court in the District of Columbia brought an essential principle back to the heart of the debate: the protection of freedom of speech and the independence of international experts is an integral part of any rights-based democratic system.

Why Francesca Albanese at the WMF

The WMF – We Make Future was founded as an international platform dedicated to innovation, artificial intelligence, technology, and the digital world. However, it has always interpreted innovation through a broad lens: not merely as technical progress, but as a collective responsibility.

Building the future means questioning the tools we use, the economic models we promote, the policies we adopt, and the rights we choose to protect.

The presence of Francesca Albanese at WMF 2026 aligns perfectly with this vision: bringing an authoritative voice on international law to the Mainstage means opening a space for dialogue on global crises, civilian protection, justice, the self-determination of peoples, and the role of the international community in defending human dignity.

In a world where technology, geopolitics, economics, and rights are increasingly intertwined, the WMF remains a cultural accelerator and a platform for dialogue, capable of bringing together diverse perspectives to envision and build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.