KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has voted overwhelmingly to extend the mandate of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk for another four years, despite opposition from Russia, Israel and the United States, media reports said on Saturday.
A total of 144 countries voted in favour of Secretary-General António Guterres’ recommendation to renew Türk’s mandate, while 10 voted against and 13 abstained, Reuters reported.
The report said the 193-member General Assembly had earlier rejected a Russian proposal to extend Türk’s mandate for only about two more months, until the end of 2026.
Türk, who has criticised Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s actions in Gaza, has also called for investigations into deaths in US immigration detention centres. His positions have drawn opposition from Moscow, Tel Aviv and Washington.
Before the vote, the United States warned it would review its funding and cooperation with the UN if Türk’s mandate was renewed.
Reuters said the vote reflected growing tensions between US President Donald Trump’s administration and the United Nations.
An Austrian lawyer and long-serving UN official, Türk will become the first UN human rights chief to serve two full four-year terms in the post.
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