Volker Turk re-elected as UN human rights chief for second term

Austrian lawyer Volker Turk will become the first United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to complete two full four‑year terms since the post was created in 2008. Turk, who was first appointed in 2018, has been re‑appointed for a second term that will run until 2026, a decision announced by Secretary‑General António Guterres at a UN press briefing on Tuesday.

Turk’s tenure has seen the office expand its focus on digital rights, gender‑based violence and the protection of migrant workers. He has overseen the establishment of a new regional office in the Middle East and has led investigations into alleged human‑rights abuses in several conflict zones. His reappointment is viewed as a sign of continuity for the UN’s human‑rights agenda, as the organization seeks to build on the progress made in the first half of his initial mandate.

The UN will now work with Turk to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Council’s 2025 review and to prepare the agenda for the 2026 session of the Human Rights Council. The decision underscores the organization’s preference for experienced leadership in navigating the increasingly complex global human‑rights landscape.