How Volker Türk Won a Second Term as UN Human Rights Chief

How Volker Türk Secured a New Term as UN Human Rights Chief Despite US, Israeli and Russian Opposition no

The Pakistan Times — Islamabad, July 25, 2026

The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to grant Volker Türk a second four-year term as the UN's human rights chief, despite strong objections from the United States, Israel, and Russia, making him the first person to serve two full terms in the role since it was created in 1993. The Pakistan Times explains who Türk is, why his reappointment proved contentious, and what the vote reveals about divisions within the world body.

The Vote

Member states in the 193-nation General Assembly voted 144 in favour to 10 against, with 13 abstentions, to reappoint Türk on Friday. Ahead of the vote, the assembly had also rejected a US proposal to delay the decision by roughly a week, as well as a separate Russian proposal that would have extended Türk's term only until the end of 2026 rather than granting him a full four more years. Since the vote takes place in the General Assembly rather than the Security Council, the veto powers held by Russia, the United States, China, Britain, and France did not apply, allowing the broader membership to decide the outcome.

Who Is Volker Türk

Türk is an Austrian lawyer who joined the United Nations in 1999, building a career largely within the organisation's refugee agency, with postings in Malaysia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He later moved into senior leadership roles at UN headquarters in New York, including serving as assistant secretary-general for strategic coordination under Secretary-General António Guterres, with whom he is understood to share a close working relationship. He has held the post of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2022 and was due to complete his first term on October 11, 2026, before Guterres proposed extending his mandate through 2030.

Why the Reappointment Was Contentious

Türk's tenure has been marked by outspoken criticism of major powers, including Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Israel's military campaign in Gaza, positions that made his second-term bid unusually contentious for a post that has often been reappointed by consensus in the past. Israel's Foreign Ministry criticised his record sharply, accusing his office of downplaying the events of October 7 and compromising the UN's neutrality. The US State Department, meanwhile, argued that the UN's human rights architecture has been steadily losing credibility and described Friday's vote as further evidence of dysfunction within the organisation. Russia, too, pushed for a shorter, temporary extension rather than a full new term.

Adding to the controversy was the process itself: Guterres nominated Türk for reappointment this month following private consultations rather than an open selection process, a move that drew concern from several UN member states even among those who ultimately voted in his favour. While the African group raised no formal objection to his renomination, a number of Latin American countries, including Nicaragua, Argentina, and Paraguay, expressed reservations.

Criticism From Both Directions

Beyond objections from Washington, Moscow, and Tel Aviv, Türk has also faced criticism for perceived caution in some of his positions. Rights advocates have pointed out that he has stopped short of formally joining independent UN experts who have accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel firmly rejects. He has also drawn scrutiny over his approach to China's treatment of Uyghur and other Muslim minority communities in Xinjiang, with critics arguing he could have done more to press for accountability following a report from his predecessor that suggested the detentions may amount to crimes against humanity.

What Comes Next

With his reappointment secured, Türk is set to continue in the post for four more years, placing him at the centre of some of the world's most polarising human rights disputes at a moment when major powers remain sharply divided over how the United Nations should respond to conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond. His office has indicated that he remains ready to continue serving despite the opposition his renomination generated. The Pakistan Times will continue to follow developments as Türk begins his second term.

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