Austria’s Volker Türk took office on Monday as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. In his first appearance, he called for an end to attacks on civilians in Ukraine.
Compliance with international human rights standards and international humanitarian law is “absolutely crucial, so there is a strong call for de-escalation,” Türk said after another wave of Russian drone strikes hit Kiev and other Ukrainian cities on Monday morning.
Has been in the service of the UN for years
The 57-year-old diplomat, who is considered a close confidant of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, succeeds Chilean Michelle Bachelet, who resigned after one term at the end of August. Türk, who worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for more than two decades, most recently served in the office of the UN Secretary-General as Under-Secretary-General for Politics. Guterres appointed Türk in early September, after which the UN General Assembly ratified the appointment.
Difficult task “inherited”
The Linz-born expert in international law has a difficult task ahead of him. Türk’s biggest challenge will be following up on a sensitive report on China’s Xinjiang region that his predecessor published minutes before the end of her term in office. Earlier, Bachelet had reported massive pressure from China and dozens of other countries not to publish the report on the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of the Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.
China strongly rejects the allegations and has so far prevented a debate on the report in the UN Human Rights Council. Türk is now responsible for following up on the report.
Source: Krone
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