In 1991, Türk became a UN Junior Professional Officer and had a temporary assignment in Kuwait funded by the Austrian Foreign Ministry. He then held posts with the UNHCR in different regions of the world, including Malaysia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He later became the Director of the Division of International Protection at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.[5] In February 2015, he was appointed Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, making him the highest-ranking Austrian UN official; he played a role in the development of the Global Compact on Refugees.[6][2]
On 18 April 2019, Türk was appointed by Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres to be Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General at the UN Secretariat.[7][8] From 2021 to 2022, he served as Under-Secretary-General for Policy in the Executive Office.[9] Türk coordinated UN global policy work and follow-up to the Secretary-General’s “Call to Action for Human Rights” and report, "Our Common Agenda".[10]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2022–present
On 8 September 2022, Türk was selected to be the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.[11][12][13]
He assumed office on 17 October 2022.[12] His stated priorities include building a stronger UN human rights presence on the ground, and raising more money for a UN office that he said was underfunded.[14]
In 2023, he led the Human Rights 75 initiative, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which garnered almost 800 pledges from States and other actors, ranging from advancing women's rights and children's rights to commitments on climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as initiatives aimed at empowering people with disabilities and promoting legislative reforms.[15] His vision statement, "Human Rights: A Path for Solutions", sets out eight messages to ensure human rights are at the centre of renewed action for peace; economies that work for people and planet; effective governance; and guardrails for digital and scientific progress.[16]
Türk promotes human rights as a solution to new challenges, such as the implications of digital technology on privacy and freedom of expression.[17]
On 17 April 2023, Türk called on Russian authorities to free the longtime Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza who had been sentenced to a 25-year prison sentence on charges including treason. The sentence is "another blow to the rule of law and civic space in the Russian Federation", said Türk.[18]
On 9 May 2023, Türk said Iran in that year had an "abominable" track record of executions with an average of more than 10 people hanged each week[19] and called on Iranian authorities to abolish the death penalty.[20]
In March 2024, Türk said he recognised "China's advances in alleviating poverty and advancing development" and urged the release of human rights defenders, lawyers and others detained under the “picking quarrels and making trouble” legislation.[21] He also called on China to implement the recommendations in the 2022 UN Human Rights Office report on Xinjiang.[22]
During the Israel-Hamas war, Türk said Israel may - if intent were proven - be using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, which would amount to a war crime; Israel's economy minister, Nir Barkat, said Türk's warnings were "total nonsense - a totally irresponsible thing to say".[23]
In May 2016, Türk was awarded the Human Rights Award [de] of the University of Graz. University authorities said the prize was intended to honour his 25 years of protecting refugees worldwide and to highlight the central role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in supporting refugees.[24]
Publications
He is published on international refugee law, statelessness and human rights issues including in the International Journal of Refugee Law.[25]
Erika Feller, Volker Türk, Frances Nicholson (eds.): Refugee Protection in International Law. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2003, ISBN 0-521-53281-7.
^"OHCHR | Volker Türk". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
^"Türk's global update to the Human Rights Council". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 4 March 2024. Dialogue between China and my Office continues in areas such as counterterrorism policies, gender equality, minority protection, civic space, and economic, social and cultural rights. As we move forward, it is important that this dialogue yield concrete results, notably in respect of the policy areas raised during the Universal Periodic Review. I recognise China's advances in alleviating poverty and advancing development, and I have urged that these advances be accompanied by reforms to align relevant laws and policies with international human rights standards. During the UPR, China announced plans to adopt 30 new measures for human rights protection, including amendments to the Criminal Law, and revisions of the Criminal Procedure Law. My Office looks forward to engaging with China on this; I particularly encourage revision of the vague offence of "picking quarrels and making trouble" in Article 293 of the Criminal Law, and I urge the release of human rights defenders, lawyers and others detained under such legislation. I also call on the Government to implement the recommendations made by my Office and other human rights bodies in relation to laws, policies and practises that violate fundamental rights, including in the Xinjiang and Tibet regions.
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