UN High Commissioner Volker Türk has been appointed for a second term
This is evident from the transcript of the 106th plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly.
The Austrian diplomat’s candidacy for reappointment was put forward by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 144 states voted in favour of extending Türk’s term of office, 10 voted against, and a further 13 delegations abstained.
Before reaching a final decision, the General Assembly considered alternative proposals. The United States proposed postponing the vote for further consultations, whilst Russia proposed extending Türk’s term only until the end of 2026. Neither initiative received the necessary support.
Volker Türk has held the post of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since October 2022. Upon completion of his new term, he will become the first head of this office to have served two full four-year terms since the post was established in 1993.
The High Commissioner is the UN’s chief official in the field of human rights protection and heads the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He works under the authority of the Secretary-General, reports to the General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council, and coordinates the organisation’s human rights activities.
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