Volker Turk of Austria has been appointed as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Turk following approval by the General Assembly.
The new High Commissioner is currently coordinating global policy work as an Under-Secretary-General in the UN’s Executive Office. Previously, he was the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at UN refugees, UNHCR, in Geneva where he played a key role in the development of the landmark Global Compact on Refugees.