EXPLAINER
The UN Common Meeting voted 144-10 to grant Turk a brand new four-year time period, regardless of objections from the US, Israel and Russia.
Volker Turk has been elected as United Nations human rights chief for an additional four-year time period, regardless of robust objections from america, Russia and Israel.
The United Nations General Assembly vote on Friday means Turk, who has served within the function since 2022, will develop into the primary particular person to serve two full phrases because the UN rights chief for the reason that place was created in 1993.
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Who’s Turk and why has his reappointment triggered controversy?
Who’s Volker Turk?
Turk, an Austrian lawyer, joined the United Nations in 1999 and went on to work within the organisation’s refugee company. This included posts in Malaysia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He later labored in senior roles at UN headquarters in New York, together with as assistant secretary-general for strategic coordination below UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres. The 2 are believed to have a detailed relationship.
In his function as UN rights chief, Turk has been extremely vital of each Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He has additionally been vocal on conflicts and rights abuses in Afghanistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nicaragua.
How was he reappointed?
The UN Common Meeting overwhelmingly backed a proposal by Guterres to provide Turk one other four-year time period with 144 votes in favour, 10 in opposition to and 13 abstentions.
Earlier, the meeting shot down a US proposal to delay the vote till the tip of subsequent week in addition to a Russian bid to increase Turk’s time period till the tip of the 12 months solely.
How has Turk angered the US, Russia and Israel?
The function of UN human rights chief is inherently controversial as a result of it requires public criticism of governments of UN members for alleged rights violations.
Turk’s outspoken criticism of insurance policies in Israel, Russia and the US has put him at odds with all three nations.
Turk has repeatedly criticised Israel’s genocidal warfare on Gaza, its lethal assault on Lebanon, and a “shameful” lack of accountability for its rights abuses within the occupied Palestinian territory.
Turk has additionally described Russia’s warfare in Ukraine as “mindless” and a “blatant affront to the UN Constitution and the entire physique of worldwide regulation”.
On the US, he has raised considerations concerning the warfare on Iran and the “dehumanisation” of immigrants below President Donald Trump, citing routine “abuse and denigration of migrants and refugees”.
Israel’s Ministry of International Affairs criticised Turk’s file, saying that below his management the Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights has “erased the atrocities of October 7, misused funds, and betrayed UN neutrality in favor of corrupt political radicalism”.
Russia’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dmitry Chumakov accused Turk of bias and making unfounded allegations in opposition to Russia.
What objections had been raised to Turk’s reappointment?
Guterres, whose personal time period is because of finish on the finish of this 12 months, has confronted criticism for the way he managed the reappointment. Critics say the vote was rushed and the choice of a rights chief ought to have been left to his successor.
The UN secretary-general, whose time period expires in December, despatched letters to regional teams on the UN earlier this month informing them of his intention to reappoint Turk, and held the vote simply weeks later.
The US Division of State criticised the vote for being rushed and mentioned it was “one other instance of the UN’s inherent corruption and incompetence”.
The US additionally accused Turk of turning “a blind eye to actual atrocities and as an alternative pursued a radical ideological agenda”. US Deputy Ambassador Jeff Bartos claimed earlier than Friday’s vote that reappointing Turk would show that the Common Meeting “is dysfunctional”.
Israel’s International Ministry referred to as Guterres’s push for a second time period for Turk a “ethical failure,” saying that the selection must be left to his successor.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned Guterres had adopted UN guidelines and engaged “in a really clear method” in appointing Turk, together with by holding prior consultations with member states and regional teams.
What different criticism has Turk confronted?
Turk’s critics say he may have completed extra to publicly observe up on a report issued by his predecessor, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, that mentioned China’s detention of Uighurs and different principally Muslim ethnic teams in Xinjiang could quantity to crimes in opposition to humanity.
Turk additionally has stopped short of joining independent UN rights experts who’ve accused Israel of genocide in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza.
Turk’s workplace mentioned he had used each non-public engagement with Beijing and his public advocacy to help human rights in China.
