Türk Archives - Career Meaning

Human toll of senseless conflict ‘is incalculable’, says Türk

·December 9, 2024·2 min read

As the world prepares to mark Human Rights Day 2024, Mr. Türk reflected on “a time when human rights are not only violated, but also increasingly instrumentalised.” He highlighted three critical issues to the international community: the proliferation of armed conflict, the rise of disinformation, and the neglect of long-term...

Ukraine: Türk calls on Russia to silence the guns in appeal for ‘a just peace’

Uncategorized

·December 25, 2023·3 min read

Since the onset of the invasion the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has meticulously monitored the situation. As of December 4, there have been over 10,000 civilian deaths, including 560 children, with an additional 18,500 civilians confirmed injured, with actual figures believed to be much higher due to the difficulties...

‘Rebuild a foundation of hope’ for global human rights: Türk

Uncategorized

·December 13, 2023·4 min read

“This is a pivotal day. We are here to rebuild a foundation of hope – hope that we need now, perhaps more than ever, at this sombre moment in history,” Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, addressing participants which included leaders from Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Greece Senegal, Colombia...

UN’s Türk urges probe into alleged sexual violence during Hamas terror attacks

Uncategorized

·December 7, 2023·4 min read

The High Commissioner also rejected allegations of double standards regarding the UN’s position on the crisis in Gaza, noting that he had been made aware of allegations of sexual violence during the Hamas attack on communities in southern Israel. It was “painfully clear” that the “atrocious” attacks should be fully...

Gaza: UN’s Türk calls for political path out of ‘horror’

Uncategorized

·November 16, 2023·2 min read

Speaking in Geneva, the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the parties to the conflict to “create the political space for a path out of this horror”. Mr. Türk condemned the widespread targeting of civilians in the past five weeks of hostilities and urged accountability for gross rights violations. He...

At Rafah crossing, Türk says both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes

Uncategorized

·November 8, 2023·2 min read

Volker Türk highlighted the dichotomy at the border crossing, describing it as a “lifeline” for the 2.3 million residents of Gaza over the past month, although “unjustly, outrageously thin.” But it is also “the gates to a living nightmare”, he continued, as people in Gaza “have been suffocating, under persistent...

Myanmar: ‘Inhumanity in its vilest form’ continues, warns Türk

Uncategorized

·September 27, 2023·2 min read

“Each day, the people of Myanmar are enduring horrifying attacks, flagrant human rights violations and the crumbling of their livelihoods and hopes,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He was briefing the Human Rights Council – the UN’s primary body for the protection and promotion of rights...

Türk: Ethnically motivated attacks leave hundreds dead in Sudan

Uncategorized

·September 13, 2023·2 min read

“Such developments echo a horrific past that must not be repeated,” said Volker Türk UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, marking “five months of futile suffering, death, loss and destruction.” Mounting casualties Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Türk also warned of mounting civilian casualties, as 1500 have...

Afghanistan: Human rights ‘in a state of collapse’, warns Türk

Uncategorized

·September 12, 2023·2 min read

“Human rights in Afghanistan are in a state of collapse,” he told the Human Rights Council, before sounding the alarm over ongoing reports of extrajudicial killings, torture and ill-treatment and arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as serious violations against former Government officials, as documented in a new human rights office...

Türk blasts ‘politics of repression and division’, stresses freedom and development link

Uncategorized

·September 11, 2023·4 min read

Addressing the opening of the Council’s 54th session, Mr. Türk strongly condemned the “old, blunt, brutal politics of repression” as exemplified by a rise in military coups and the crushing of dissent – “in short, the fist”. Following military takeovers in Niger and Gabon, he insisted that the “unconstitutional changes...

Türk calls on Israeli Government to ‘heed the calls of the people’ over judicial reform

Uncategorized

·July 28, 2023·1 min read

Volker Türk said he had been “following developments closely” in Israel, where parliamentarians supporting the hard-line nationalist Government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu passed a bill on Monday which in effect strips the Supreme Court of its power to block Government decisions. Opposition parties boycotted the vote which came after...

Myanmar atrocities and impunity must end: Türk

Uncategorized

·July 7, 2023·2 min read

Repeated, horrific violations have been recorded by the UN human rights office, including mass killings, extra-judicial executions, and beheadings, Mr. Türk said, while the military has continued to carry out atrocities in Rakhine state, where the Rohingya minority are denied citizenship. In an address to the Council, he called for...