Volker Türk

United Nations human rights chief

60 stories

70 quotes

I was in Bangladesh last year. The students were so grateful for us taking a stand and for us speaking out and for supporting them,
I'll give you the example of Bangladesh last year. During July, August, you know, there were massive demonstrations of students. They had enough of the previous government under Sheikh Hasina.”
When Muhammad Yunus took over as the new chief adviser of the interim administration, he asked me immediately, can you send us a fact-finding mission to put the spotlight on the situation and to investigate what was happening, which is what we did. And it actually helped.”
To say it is well-deserved is an understatement. At a time when human rights are under attack on so many fronts, including from those who wield enormous power, this award is particularly poignant. It is an award to all those who, around the world, dedicate their lives to the defense of human rights — often at great risk to their security,
The war in Ukraine is a human rights catastrophe that is growing and intensifying by the week,
The prolonged suffering — physical and mental — arising from multiple failed execution attempts is abhorrent, and cruel,

In the last 24 hours

'Unwarranted': India rejects UN human rights agency's remarks on Delhi protests

Deccan Heralddeccanherald.com/india/unwarra…

Volker Türk, director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose remarks on the detentions in Delhi on Saturday sparked sharp criticism from India, had earlier similarly thrown his weight around in Bangladesh, where he threatened to ban the army from UN peacekeeping missions if they intervened during the 2024 student-led protests

Hindustan Timeshindustantimes.com/world/news…

Earlier

Leaders for life: Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega scraps elections

The Economisteconomist.com/the/americas…

However, the US has done little to signal that it will take imminent action in Nicaragua, while the country’s co-presidents — Daniel Ortega and wife Rosario Murillo — have largely kept a low profile and avoided provoking the Trump administration

CNNcnn.com/2026/07…