“For everyone and everywhere” – Austrian Türk is the new UN chief for human rights

In a broadcast, the UN praised the fact that the Austrian diplomat had devoted his career to promoting universal human rights, “especially the international protection of the world’s most vulnerable people: refugees and stateless persons”.

“Very honoured”
He is “deeply honored” to be appointed High Commissioner for Human Rights, Türk wrote on Twitter. He feels a great responsibility and wants to ‘do everything possible to fulfill the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for everyone, everywhere’.

“We will support the work of the new High Commissioner with all our strength and work closely with Volker Türk,” the foreign ministry said. “Especially in these difficult times, we are all obliged to defend fundamental and human rights – as well as our open, free and pluralistic society – day after day. We must never tire of demanding that all states fully fulfill their obligations.” With Volker Türk as High Commissioner, the United Nations could count on a passionate advocate of human rights.

First Challenge: Oppression in China
The High Commissioner plays a vital role in speaking out against the decline of freedoms at a time when autocracies are gaining influence at the expense of democracy. The most immediate challenge for Türk will be to deal with the follow-up to a report on China’s Xinjiang region that his predecessor published minutes before the end of her term in office. The report noted that China’s “arbitrary and discriminatory detention” of Uyghurs and other Muslims in the Xinjiang region could constitute crimes against humanity.

China strongly denies any abuse in Xinjiang. “It is China’s hope that Mr. Türk will lead the office by strictly adhering to the principles of objectivity, impartiality and non-politicization,” China’s Vice Ambassador to the UN, Dai Bing, told the General Assembly. . US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Lisa Carty said Türk should “serve as an independent, impartial and steadfast voice on human rights issues around the world”. He must be “ready to expose human rights violations and abuses wherever they occur,” she said.

Experienced lawyer
Türk worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for over two decades, most recently as a Deputy High Commissioner from 2015 to 2019. The lawyer then moved to the office of UN Secretary-General Guterres. He obtained his doctorate in international law from the University of Vienna and was a research associate at the Institute of International Law of the University of Linz and the Institute of Criminal Law of the University of Linz. Türk has published numerous publications in the field of international refugee law and human rights.