Volker Turk has served as high commissioner for human rights since October 2022. (AFP pic)UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly voted Friday to renew Volker Turk's mandate as high commissioner for human rights for four years despite strong opposition from the US, Russia and Israel.By a vote of 144 in favor, 10 against, and 13 abstentions, the assembly approved the renewal, beginning Oct 12, 2026, as proposed by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.An alternative proposal from Russia to extend the mandate by only a few months, until Dece 31, 2026, was overwhelmingly rejected, as was the US request to postpone the vote.Ambassador Jeff Bartos, US representative for UN management and reform, criticised the four-year renewal on both procedural and substantive grounds, accusing Guterres of having rushed the process."Make no mistake: If this assembly tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals, and the misuse of UN posts, there will be consequences. The United States will immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding," he warned just before the vote.Turk, from Austria, has served as high commissioner since October 2022.
UN assembly approves four-year extension in mandate of rights chief The United Nations General Assembly on Friday voted overwhelmingly in favor to extend the term of UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk for four more years, despite opposition from Russia, Israel and the United States. A large majority in the 193-member General Assembly earlier voted against a Russian counter-proposal to extend Turk's term by just over two months to the end of 2026. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has worked closely with Turk in the past and steps down in December, proposed the second four-year term for Turk when his existing term expires in October.
human rights chief Volker Türk won a second term Friday despite opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel to keep him in one of the most controversial United Nations posts for four more years.U.N. proposal to delay the vote until the end of next week as well as a Russian proposal to extend Türk’s term just until the end of the year. The vote in the 193-member General Assembly to reappoint Türk was 144-10, with 13 abstentions.While he got strong support, the votes and speeches also reflected concern that Secretary-General António Guterres quietly nominated the Austrian lawyer this month after private consultations, with no public discussion, as the U.N.
chief nears the end of his own 10-year tenure.Türk’s job as the U.N. rights chief, by its nature, is tricky: It requires speaking out against rights violations by the governments of the countries that make up the membership of the world body. For instance, Türk has sharply criticized Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Türk got wide support but loud pushback from the U.S.
and IsraelTürk, whose term was supposed to expire on Oct. 11, has faced opposition from critics and some countries for his criticism of Israel’s attacks in Gaza and his approach to China’s crackdown on its Uyghur minority. None of Türk’s predecessors have served two full terms since the job was created in 1993.U.S.
deputy ambassador Jeff Bartos warned before the vote that reappointing Türk would prove that the General Assembly “is dysfunctional” and that the vote “was quietly shoved onto the agenda at the last minute to bypass meaningful review.”“Make no mistake, if this assembly tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals and the misuse of U.N. posts, there will be consequences,” he warned. for its regular dues and for the separate budget for U.N.
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