This file photo taken on March 21, 2019 shows assistant High Commissioner for Protection UNHCR, Volker Turk, speaking during a press conference in Dhaka. (MUNIR UZ ZAMAN / AFP)
UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appointed Volker Turk of Austria as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following approval by the UN General Assembly.
Volker Turk is currently under-secretary-general for policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, where he coordinates global policy work
Turk will succeed Michelle Bachelet of Chile, whose term ended on Aug 31, according to a press note from the UN chief's office.
Turk is currently under-secretary-general for policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, where he coordinates global policy work. He previously served as assistant secretary-general for strategic coordination in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General from 2019 to 2021.
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Turk holds a doctorate in international law from the University of Vienna and a master of laws degree from the University of Linz, Austria.
Other candidates for the job included career diplomat Federico Villegas from Argentina, and Senegal's Adama Dieng, who previously advised Guterres on genocide prevention.