Volker Türk appointed new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Baku, September 9, AZERTAC Secretary-General António Guterres appointed on Thursday, Volker Türk of Austria as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following approval by the General Assembly, according to the organization. “Mr. Türk has devoted his long and distinguished career to advancing universal human rights, notably the international protection of some of the world’s most vulnerable people – refugees and Stateless persons,” the UN chief said in a statement.  From 2019 to 2021, Mr. Türk served as Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination in the UN chief’s Executive Office.  Prior to that, he was the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at UN refugees, UNHCR, in Geneva – from 2015 to 2019 – where he played a key role in the development of the landmark Global Compact on Refugees.    Mr. Türk also served UNHCR around the world, including as Representative in Malaysia; Assistant Chief of Mission in Kosovo and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively; and Regional Protection Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and in Kuwait.  He holds a doctorate in international law from the University of Vienna and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Linz, Austria.  Moreover, the new UN human rights chief has published widely on international refugee law and international human rights law and is fluent in English, French and German with a working knowledge of Spanish.  Mr. Türk will succeed Michelle Bachelet of Chile, who served as High Commissioner from 1 September 2018 through 31 August 2022. In his statement, the Secretary-General expressed gratitude for Ms. Bachelet’s “commitment and dedicated service to the United Nations”.