Türk Archives - Page 2 of 3

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

·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

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·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

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·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

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·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...

Killings drive Israelis and Palestinians ‘deeper into an abyss’, warns Türk

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·June 23, 2023·1 min read

“These latest killings and the violence, along with the inflammatory rhetoric, serve only to drive Israelis and Palestinians deeper into an abyss,” said the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as his Office warned of the “terrible impact on both Palestinians and Israelis” of the escalation, before calling for an immediate end...

Türk calls for action to enable ‘equal and meaningful’ participation of women in public life

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·June 14, 2023·1 min read

“Patriarchy must be a thing of the past. Our future depends on women and girls being at the table everywhere when decisions are made,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Only 1 in 4 parliamentarians are women “It was only last year that for the first...

Human rights for all, still ‘work in progress’ warns Türk

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·June 7, 2023·2 min read

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, and its mandate has become a powerful vehicle for change, progress, dignity, and justice, yet “this is far from enough to meet today’s challenges”, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in his keynote address at the +30 Symposium, Vienna World Conference:...

‘Safe digital public square’ never more important, says Türk

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·May 27, 2023·1 min read

Volker Türk was issuing a clarion call to protect and expand civic space, arguing that it’s the only way to enable us all “to play a role in political, economic, and social life, at all levels, from local to global.” Hate speech going unchecked He said with more and more...

Türk appeals to Sudan’s warring generals; calls out ‘dangerous anti-rights tendencies’ worldwide

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·May 25, 2023·4 min read

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk appealed to the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and of the Rapid Support Forces, locked in conflict since 15 April, to “issue clear instructions” to those under their command that sexual violence will not be tolerated, and to ensure that all...

Guatemala: Türk alarmed by reprisals against anti-corruption officials

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·March 30, 2023·2 min read

Mr. Türk’s warning comes amid the reported harassment and prosecution of justice officials involved with the UN-backed International Commission against Impunity (CICIG), including, most recently, former Commissioner Francisco Dall’Anese. The UN rights chief called on the Guatemalan authorities “to ensure judges and lawyers can function freely and without fear of reprisals”. An independent judiciary is...

Occupation ‘eating away’ at Israeli, Palestinian societies: Türk

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·March 4, 2023·3 min read

“I urge decision-makers and people on all sides to give effect to the recommendations of our reports and to step back from the precipice to which increasing extremism and violence have led,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), after presenting the Council with his latest...

Right to development can save world from ‘destructive spiral’: Türk

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·March 2, 2023·2 min read

Adding her voice to the High Commissioner’s call for action, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned in a video message that the right to development has “yet to be realized by billions of people” who were “hurting (while) the planet is burning. The world cannot wait.” Marking the 35th anniversary of...