Volker TürkTerm Despite Opposition from US, Israel and Russia/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ U.N. 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. Türk faces a General Assembly vote on whether to grant him another four-year term. The United States, Russia, Israel and several Latin American countries have challenged the process or criticized his record on Gaza and China’s treatment of Uyghurs. The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres followed established rules allowing Türk to serve a second term.
Quick Look
- Guterres nominated Türk for a second four-year term.
- The 193-member General Assembly scheduled a Friday vote.
- Türk’s current term expires Oct. 11.
- The State Department accused Türk of pursuing a “radical ideological agenda.”
- Russia proposed extending his term only through Dec. 31.
- No previous U.N. human rights chief has completed two full terms.
- Israel wants the next secretary-general to select the human rights chief.
- Nicaragua, Argentina and Paraguay raised objections.
- The African regional group did not object.
- The U.N. says a 1993 resolution permits a second term.
- Critics say Türk has not responded forcefully enough to China’s treatment of Uyghurs.
- Türk has criticized Israel’s Gaza attacks but stopped short of accusing Israel of genocide.
- China denies persecuting Uyghurs.
- Türk’s office says he combines private diplomacy with public advocacy.
Deep Look
Türk Faces Vote on Second Four-Year Term
UNITED NATIONS — U.N. 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. member nations rejected a U.S. 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.
Volker Türk faces opposition as the General Assembly considers extending his tenure for another four years.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nominated the Austrian lawyer for reappointment following private consultations with U.N. member states and regional groups.
The 193-member General Assembly scheduled a vote for Friday afternoon without holding a public debate.
Türk’s current term expires Oct. 11.
United States Condemns Reappointment Process
The U.S. State Department criticized the timing and handling of the vote.
It called the expedited process “another example of the U.N.’s inherent corruption and incompetence.”
“Volker Turk has turned a blind eye to real atrocities and instead pursued a radical ideological agenda,” the department said.
“We will not allow the UN Secretary General (SYG) to reward his crony with a cushy job extension he has done nothing to earn.”
The State Department did not specify in the supplied report how the United States intended to vote.
Human Rights Role Requires Criticizing Governments
The U.N. human rights chief is responsible for publicly addressing abuses committed by the same governments whose representatives decide whether to approve the officeholder.
That structure routinely creates political opposition.
Türk has sharply criticized Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, raised concerns about China’s human-rights record and condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza.
His critics differ significantly over which governments and abuses they believe he has treated too harshly or too cautiously.
Russia Proposes Shorter Extension
Russia’s U.N. mission suggested allowing Türk to remain in office only until Dec. 31.
That is the final day of Guterres’ second five-year term as secretary-general.
Under Russia’s proposal, the next secretary-general would select a new human rights commissioner.
Six candidates are competing to replace Guterres as the U.N.’s top official.
Russia described the attempt to grant Türk four additional years as “unprecedented.”
No Predecessor Completed Two Full Terms
The position of U.N. high commissioner for human rights was established in 1993.
No previous officeholder has served two complete four-year terms.
Guterres informed regional groups earlier in July that he intended to reappoint Türk.
The African group did not object. Several Latin American countries—including Nicaragua, Argentina and Paraguay—raised concerns.
Israel Calls Nomination a “Moral Failure”
Israel opposed Türk’s reappointment after years of disputes over his statements concerning Gaza and Israeli policy.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called Guterres’ action the secretary-general’s “latest moral failure” and argued that his successor should make the selection.
“After years of bias against Israel, the answer is accountability — not rewriting the rules,” the ministry said.
Türk has criticized Israeli attacks in Gaza but has not adopted every conclusion advanced by independent U.N. human-rights experts.
UN Says Guterres Followed Existing Rules
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric rejected accusations that Guterres had improperly changed the process.
He said the secretary-general was acting under the 1993 resolution that created the human-rights position and permits reappointment.
“The secretary-general is doing things in a very transparent manner, following the rules and his authority,” Dujarric said.
“Consultations were had with member states prior to this and with regional groups.”
Türk Says He Is Ready to Continue
Human-rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said Türk “is ready to serve” another term.
She said the position requires the “promotion and protection of human rights everywhere, and as a part of this, he sees it as his role to engage with all states.”
Türk is a longtime U.N. official who previously worked with Guterres at the organization’s New York headquarters.
Türk Has Raised Concerns About China
During his term, Türk has addressed several human-rights issues involving China.
He has expressed concern about detained individuals including artist Gao Zhen, lawyer Yu Wensheng and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai.
Türk has also discussed counterterrorism policies and assimilation practices affecting ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet.
His office says he has used private engagement with Beijing alongside public advocacy.
Critics Say Uyghur Response Was Too Weak
Critics argue that Türk should have more forcefully followed up on a report issued by his predecessor, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.
That report concluded that China’s discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.
Former Human Rights Watch executive director Ken Roth called Türk “a disaster.”
He said “the biggest stain on Turk’s reputation is his utter abandonment of the Uyghurs.”
China Denies Persecuting Uyghurs
China denies that Uyghurs are being persecuted.
Beijing says its policies in Xinjiang were intended to combat terrorism and religious extremism following violent incidents in previous decades.
Human-rights organizations and Western governments have accused Chinese authorities of mass detention, coercive assimilation and other abuses.
Roth Criticizes Private Diplomacy
Türk’s office says it has pursued human-rights improvements through direct, private engagement with Beijing as well as public statements.
Roth described that explanation as “an admission that he is doing nothing, that he’s putting the plight of the Uyghurs on the deep back burner, and is just pretending to care.”
He argued that a human-rights commissioner “should be about stirring up public pressure, and you do that by being tough, provocative, timely.”
Türk “has succeeded in making a powerful position largely innocuous,” Roth said, discussing issues in a way “that makes people’s eyes glaze over.”
Türk Has Not Accused Israel of Genocide
Independent U.N. experts have accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians during its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Israel strongly denies the allegation.
Türk has criticized Israel’s military actions but has stopped short of endorsing the genocide accusation.
The divided criticism—coming from Israel as well as advocates who believe Türk has not gone far enough—illustrates the political pressure surrounding Friday’s vote.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.