UN Rights Chief Volker Türk Secures Second Term Despite US, Israel, Russia Opposition

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has been reappointed for a second four-year term after winning overwhelming backing from the UN General Assembly, despite strong opposition from the United States, Israel and Russia.

The 144-10 vote makes the Austrian lawyer the first person to serve two full terms as the UN human rights chief since the position was established in 1993.

Türk, who has led the UN human rights office since 2022, has been an outspoken critic of conflicts and alleged human rights violations around the world, including Israel's military operations in Gaza, Russia's war in Ukraine, and abuses in countries such as Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

Ahead of the vote, the United States unsuccessfully sought to delay the decision, while Russia proposed extending Türk's mandate only until the end of the year. Both proposals were rejected by the General Assembly.

The reappointment has sparked controversy, with the US and Israel arguing that the process was rushed and should have been left to the next UN secretary-general, as António Guterres' term ends later this year.

Israel accused Türk's office of abandoning neutrality and unfairly targeting the country over the Gaza conflict, while Russia alleged bias against Moscow. The US also criticized Türk's record, accusing him of pursuing what it described as a political agenda instead of addressing global human rights concerns impartially.

The UN defended the process, insisting that Secretary-General Guterres followed established rules and consulted member states before nominating Türk for another term.

Türk has also faced criticism from some human rights advocates, who argue he has not taken a stronger public stance on China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims and has stopped short of formally describing Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, despite concerns raised by independent UN experts. His office maintains that it has continued to engage governments through both public advocacy and private diplomacy.

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