Overall UN Person of the Year
OVERALL UN PERSON OF THE YEAR: Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian territories.
FIRST RUNNER-UP: Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
SECOND RUNNER-UP: António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General
Diplomat of the Year
UN DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR*: Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of Palestine to the UN. Although this survey asked respondents to nominate ambassadors of the UN’s 193 member states as write-in candidates, an overwhelming number of respondents wrote in Mansour’s name. On that basis, PassBlue is declaring him UN diplomat of the year with the acknowledgment that Palestine is not a full member state but an observer state. This year, a vote to recommended Palestine as a full member state was vetoed by the US in the Security Council but approved overwhelmingly in the General Assembly.
FIRST RUNNER-UP: Vanessa Frazier, permanent representative of Malta to the UN
SECOND RUNNER-UP: Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, permanent representative of Guyana to the UN
Francesca Albanese
Francesca Albanese, born in 1977, is the UN’s independent voice for Palestinian rights. Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022 as the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, she is the first woman to hold this position. (It is unpaid.)
Albanese’s reports and speeches have consistently highlighted grave human rights violations perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians, detailing widespread abuses such as forced displacement, unlawful killings and the denial of basic rights. She has concluded that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israel is committing acts of genocide in Gaza.
Her work has been vehemently criticized by some parties, particularly Israel and the United States. Nevertheless, her role as an independent expert is meant to contribute to the global effort to promote human rights and protect the rights of the Palestinian people through international law.
Riyad Mansour∗
Riyad Mansour, 77, is Palestine’s voice at the UN. He is a Palestinian-American diplomat who has served as the representative of the permanent observer of Palestine to the UN since 2005. He is a prominent figure in the Palestinian cause, known for his advocacy for Palestinian rights at the UN, especially the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
Notably in 2024, Mansour has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, condemning what he calls its use of excessive force, illegal settlements, restrictions on Palestinian movement and especially Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling it a “genocide.” He has been a strong advocate for Palestinian statehood and its full membership in the UN.
Our Original Criteria for the Awards
We are seeking names of people who have demonstrated strong leadership in 2024 to uphold the UN Charter, advocate for universal human rights, act to ensure international humanitarian law and promote peace and nonviolence throughout the world.
- Who is the overall UN person of the year? This can be anyone working in the UN system as a staffer, consultant or volunteer, including leaders, envoys, mediators, human rights defenders and women’s rights advocates.
- Who is the UN ambassador of the year? This should be a permanent representative of one of the 193 UN member states at headquarters in New York City.
Please follow PassBlue on Bluesky, X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Videos: YouTube and TikTok
Great leaders and special thanks to the three women Francesca, Vanessa and Carolyn for your leadership and unwavering fight for justice, equality, peace, human rights and dignity!
This is truly a heartwrenching announcement. These individuals continue to seek to undermine the jewish peoples right to exist and continue to narrate a one sided skewed story on the israel-Gaza conflict.
Israel does not represent all the Jews and not all Jews are Israelis and many Jews and many Israelis support Palestine and the current policies of the Israeli government are not supported by many Israelis, Jews and the majority of the world
The Palestinian situation is heart-wrenching. Inequity is overwhelmingly in Israel’s favour.
The right to exist is an attribute of nations. Only Palestine’s statehood is ever questioned.
All people are valid. Francesca Albanese and Riyad Mansour work for Palestinian people’s rights to be recognised and protected.
People are misunderstanding your point and the general consensus of Israeli and diaspora Jews.
None among us like, or even approve of what’s happening in Gaza. Not in 1929, not in 1948, and not in 2005 or 2024.
Israel wants peace. Jews want peace. Don’t forget this how this conflict started. Arab Palestinians display of belligerence, racism and violence against Jewish refugees legally immigrating to their ancestral homeland.
The policy of Israeli government has been shaped by 80 years of trying every other option for peace.
The only conflicts which get resolved with long lasting peace are those where one party unconditionally surrenders and admits defeat.
Until the Palestinian people, in majority, desire peace more than driving Jews out of Israel, expect more of the same.
Francesca Albanese is a sham and is doing more to hurt the Palestinians than to help.
Il governo sionista sta compiendo un genocidio contro un popolo inerme e state ancora a ribadire cose scontate allo scopo di minimizzare questo orrore.. Sono inorridito. Grazie Francesca, voce libera e corraggiosa, sei un orgoglio italiano.
Google translate: The Zionist government is carrying out genocide against a defenseless people and you are still reiterating obvious things in order to minimize this horror. I am horrified. Thank you Francesca, free and courageous voice, you are an Italian pride.
The are both incredible