UN General Assembly renews human rights chief Türk for second term despite US, Russian and Israeli opposition
The 193-member UN General Assembly approved Volker Türk's second four-year term as High Commissioner for Human Rights by a vote of 144-10 with 13 abstentions, overcoming opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel.
The vote
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Friday to renew Volker Türk's mandate as High Commissioner for Human Rights for four more years, beginning on 12 October. The final tally was 144 in favour, 10 against, and 13 abstentions. The 10 opposing votes came from the United States, Israel, Russia, Burkina Faso, Argentina, Mali, Niger, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, and North Korea. A Russian counter-proposal to extend Türk's term by roughly two months, only until 31 December, was rejected by a large majority of member states before the main vote took place. The United States also requested that the vote be postponed, a move the assembly likewise turned down.
- In favour
- 144
- Against
- 10
- Abstentions
- 13
US opposition and warnings
The US representative for UN Management and Reform, Jeff Bartos, criticised the four-year renewal on both procedural and substantive grounds. He accused Secretary-General António Guterres of having rushed the process. Bartos issued a direct warning before the vote, saying that if the assembly tolerated procedural abuse and secret negotiations, there would be consequences.
Make no mistake, if this Assembly tolerates procedural abuses, secret negotiations and the misuse of offices within the UN, there will be consequences. The United States will immediately reassess its commitment, participation and funding.
Bartos added that the UN human rights system had been losing credibility for decades and that Türk "led it to its deathbed" as Friday's vote "kicked the bucket". The US has been Israel's top ally and weapons provider.
Israel's objections and Türk's record
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had criticised Türk's record before the vote, stating that under his leadership the Office of the High Commissioner had "erased the atrocities of October 7, misused funds, and betrayed UN neutrality in favour of corrupt political radicalism". Türk has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza and across the wider region, repeatedly urging the country to comply with international humanitarian law. He has also criticised what he called the "shameful" lack of accountability for rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territory. Israel has been accused by leading rights groups and UN experts of carrying out genocide in Gaza.
Support and reactions
The European Union's delegation at the UN welcomed Türk's reappointment, saying it looks forward to working with his office to "promote and protect human rights worldwide". Türk himself responded with a brief statement on social media.
Human rights are the antidote to today's turbulence and defeatism. I will give my all for the rights of everyone, everywhere.
A lawyer by training, Türk has spent almost his entire career working within the UN system, including posts at UNHCR. He has held the high commissioner role since 2022. If he completes his second term, he will become the first UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to serve a full second term since the post was created in 1993.
What comes next
Secretary-General Guterres, who has worked closely with Türk in the past, proposed the renewal. Guterres's own term expires in December. Türk's current mandate was due to run out in October, and the new four-year extension now means he will remain in the post until at least October 2030. The vote exposed sharp divisions within the assembly, with three permanent Security Council members or their close allies lining up against the renewal.
