In Defense of Integrity at the UN | Remembering Kris Oswalt | Future-Proofing the Humanitarian System
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In Defense of Integrity at the UN | Francesca Albanese
I referred to a famous saying before: “If the United Nations didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it.” That idea becomes more than theory when we look at the work of people like Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. In a time of profound geopolitical polarization, disinformation, and pressure campaigns, her unwavering commitment to international law and human rights could not be more timely and needed. This commitment is both grounded in the UN UN Charter (which just celebrated their 80th anniversary), a treaty that is legally binding for all UN member states and which reaffirms key principles of international law and explicitly mentions the promotion and protection of human rights as a core purpose of the UN, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the provisions of which have been incorporated into international treaties adopted by most member states.Indeed, the work of Francesca Albanese reflects the conviction that the UN is not only a body of convenience for powerful states; it’s a principle voice for humanity.
When I was working in Egypt for the UN during the Arab Spring of 2011, I witnessed firsthand what the UN can stand for at its best. The UN Resident Coordinator at the time, James W. Rawley, was more than a diplomat; he led the entire international community in making sure that human rights and democratic values were not swept aside amid political turbulence. I still remember a speech he wrote for UN Day that we reviewed many (many) times to make sure the message would be heard by all stakeholders. That included those in power - despite the fact they had made it clear they would not tolerate ‘foreign interference’. It was a moment of moral clarity, and one of the times I felt incredibly proud to work for the UN — not because of the systems or meetings, but because we were standing up for people and principles. That memory has stayed with me, especially now, as I reflect on the courage and integrity of Francesca Albanese.
The UN’s Soul Is Not Its Structure
There has been no shortage of calls in recent years for UN reform —many of them justified. Reform is a must but we risk to forget what the UN stands for. I’ve written about this topic quite a bit, reflecting on how reform debates often focus on tools, processes, and management frameworks. In these discussions, however, we risk forgetting the moral and legal foundation of the United Nations. The point is not just to be more “effective,” it is to stand for something, especially when it’s politically inconvenient or unpopular to do so. If we optimize everything except our moral clarity, what exactly are we making more efficient?
Francesca Albanese: A Reminder of the Mission
This is why Francesca Albanese’s work matters. Her most recent report, the June 2025 “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide”, offers a forensic analysis that shows how corporations can drive and benefit from widespread destruction in Gaza. Albanese’s legal argument is built on evidence, not rhetoric. And yes, it is a moral indictment. Exactly the sort the UN was built to deliver.
Unsurprisingly, the backlash has been immediate and ferocious. Powerful states and interest groups haven’t engaged with the content of her report, instead turning to a familiar playbook: Delegitimize the author, avoid evidence, and weaponize outrage. Albanese has faced calls for resignation, accusations of bias, and, recently, sanctions — a move she called a sign of culpability: “The powerful punishing those who speak for the powerless, it is not a sign of strength, but of guilt.”
After reflecting upon hearing that the US imposed sanctions against her, Francesca Albanese provided a response that needs no translation. (Photo: Crt Piksi @piksiwork)
Remembering What the UN is for
If the UN is going to survive the 21st century as more than a symbolic clubhouse of states, it will have to recall why (and for what) it was created. Saving lives requires the courage to hold multiple truths at once, in this case holding all actors accountable regardless of how much power they hold. Francesca Albanese isn’t a problem, she is a proof of concept. She shows how the system can work when it’s not bullied into complacency or silence. Her work embodies the kind of integrity and legal clarity the UN Charter demands. If we’re serious about UN reform we should be protecting voices like hers, not sidelining them.
History Will Catch Up
It has been hard — almost impossible — to write about Gaza without feeling like one is walking on eggshells or falling into a pit of anger or despair. I’ve tried multiple times to make sense out of it. There are no other terms to use other than genocide. What has been more unbearable than the vitriolic words is the silence and complicity of international actors that once claimed to stand for human rights and rule of law. With the collapse of accountability happening in front of our eyes Albanese’s work is vital for bringing accountability back to the forefront. Acknowledging complex realities while applying evidence to legal frameworks is one way to remind the world that human rights law is not an option — it is necessity.
Further Reading
As I often do when I fail to describe a topic or situation, I look to people who attempt to engage with the subject matter. In the past weeks, I’ve read two books that have gone where others have not and are confrontational and brutal, if evidenced and clear. Two books that do not shy away from detailing and analysing the current atrocities are Genocide, Bad by Sim Kern and One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad.
Neither offers gentle entry points. They are blunt, necessary instruments that wield fact and real-world stakes against the hypocrisy of moral posturing or virtue signaling. Both authors ask the same thing: What is the cost of silence? Of deferring clarity? Of waiting until history gives us permission to care? And they couldn’t be more timely. Omar El Akkad writes with sharp clarity about how the West will always find moral courage after blood has dried, documents are unclassified and images are undeniable to utter, “We were always against it.” It’s an acknowledgment that comes too late for victims and survivors in Bosnia, Europe (Holocaust), Cambodia, Rwanda, Myanmar, Darfur and many others.
People like Francesca Albanese don’t play popularity contests or wait for hindsight. They engage when it matters, when it’s hard, dangerous, and when it might cost them their reputation or career. One day, the world will say she was right.
Remembering Kris Oswalt
One of the privileges of working with the United Nations is the opportunity to meet people whose dedication and vision leave a lasting mark — not just on the work, but on those around them.
Kris Oswalt was one of those people. He was the President of Community Systems Foundation (CSF), which many UN colleagues might know from their work on DevInfo and Data4All. He passed away peacefully last week in Signapore. I had the chance to work with him a few times, but each encounter stayed with me. I especially remember a trip to New Delhi, where UN colleagues and I collaborated with Kris and his team in India on what would become the first version of UNINFO. His drive to make sustainable development more data-driven was paired with a rare warmth and humanity.
Kris brought both intellect and heart to everything he did. His commitment and his kindness will continue to inspire many of us who had the privilege to work alongside him. I will remember him fondly and with great respect.
You can read more about Kris’s life and legacy here.
Future-Proofing the Humanitarian System
Commissioned by the Grand Bargain Ambassadors, Suleiman Abdullahi Damian Lilly & Lydia Poole wrote an independent think piece about the future of the humanitarian system titled Reckoning and renewal: A future-ready humanitarian system.
The humanitarian system stands at a critical crossroads: it must adapt to the complexity and protracted nature of today’s crises or risk becoming obsolete. With declining funding and growing needs, the system’s current architecture is ill-equipped to respond to a large-scale crisis. Incremental reforms such as the Grand Bargain are no longer sufficient. Instead, a fundamental redesign is required - one that redefines the system’s purpose, structure, and legitimacy. This includes embracing a more plural, accountable, and demand-driven model that works in closer partnership with local actors and broader development, climate, and peace efforts to address both the symptoms and root causes of humanitarian crises.
Key priorities proposed for a future-ready system include reconceptualising humanitarian action with clear purpose and exit strategies, developing differentiated response models tailored to crisis types, and shifting leadership toward more accountable, locally rooted structures. The report calls for exploring alternative funding channels beyond traditional aid, radically simplifying the system’s bureaucracy, and prioritising performance based on outcomes for affected people rather than institutional survival. Ultimately, legitimacy must stem from proximity, trust, and effectiveness — not from formal mandates or bureaucratic control — and real accountability must be driven by the people the system is meant to serve.
Quote that stayed with me…
"I’m not a diplomat. My lighthouse is international law, and it’s so crystal clear.”
Francesca Albanese in an interview with The Nation.
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