Volker Türk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Volker Türk
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Türk in 2022
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| United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2022 |
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| Secretary-General | António Guterres |
| Preceded by | Michelle Bachelet |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 August 1965 |
| Alma mater | University of Linz University of Vienna |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Volker Türk (born 27 August 1965) is an Austrian lawyer and United Nations official. He has been the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since October 2022.
Contents
Education
Born in Linz, Austria, he attended the Linz Khevenhuller Gymnasium. Türk received a Master of Laws from the University of Linz. He received a doctorate in international law from the University of Vienna, where his doctoral dissertation was on the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its mandate.
Career
Early years
In 1991, Türk became a UN Junior Professional Officer and had a temporary assignment in Kuwait funded by the Austrian Foreign Ministry. He then held posts with the UNHCR in different regions of the world, including Malaysia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He later became the Director of the Division of International Protection at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. In February 2015, he was appointed Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, making him the highest-ranking Austrian UN official; he played a role in the development of the Global Compact on Refugees.
On 18 April 2019, Türk was appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres to be Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General at the UN Secretariat. From 2021 to 2022, he served as Under-Secretary-General for Policy in the Executive Office. Türk coordinated UN global policy work and follow-up to the Secretary-General’s “Call to Action for Human Rights” and report, "Our Common Agenda".
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
On 8 September 2022, Türk was selected to be the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He assumed office on 17 October 2022. His stated priorities include building a stronger UN human rights presence on the ground, and raising more money for a UN office that he said was underfunded.
In 2023 he led the Human Rights 75 initiative, to advance women's and children's rights, support climate change mitigation, and empower people with disabilities. Türk promotes human rights as a solution to new challenges, such as the implications of digital technology on privacy and freedom of expression.
Personal life
Türk lives in Geneva, Switzerland.
Awards
In May 2016, Türk was awarded the University of Graz Human Rights Award for protecting refugees worldwide and to highlight the role of the UNDCR in supporting refugees.
Publications
He is published on international refugee law, statelessness and human rights issues including in the International Journal of Refugee Law.
See also
In Spanish: Volker Türk para niños
