Volker Turk
High Commissioner for Human Rights
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View Timeline →UN Rights Chief Commends India's Dialogue Approach to Protests, Critiques Repression in Pakistan and China
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk commended India's dialogue-first approach to student protests, contrasting it with repression in Pakistan and China. This highlights…
UN Human Rights Chief Warns of Iran's Use of Executions to Suppress Dissent; 56 Executed Since March
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has expressed concern over the increase in executions in Iran, stating that at least 56 individuals have been executed…
UN Rights Chief Reports Surge in Executions in Iran Amid Dissent Suppression
The UN rights chief, Volker Turk, has reported that Iran has executed at least 56 individuals since March, attributing this increase to the government's efforts…
UN Human Rights Chief Urges Iran to Halt Executions Amid Alarming Surge
The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, has expressed alarm over the increase in executions and death sentences in Iran since March, urging the government…
Volker Turk Re-elected as UN Rights Chief Amid US and Israeli Opposition
Volker Turk, an Austrian lawyer, has been re-elected as the UN rights chief, making him the first to serve two consecutive four-year terms. His re-election…
UN Calls for Investigation into Kashmir Unrest Following 31 Deaths
Clashes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir have resulted in 31 deaths since June, prompting UN rights chief Volker Turk to call for calm. The unrest highlights ongoing…
UN rights chief urges immediate return to Iran-US ceasefire - Middle East Monitor
UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged an immediate ceasefire between Iran and the US, warning that renewed hostilities are a "huge setback" for civilians…
UN Warns of Imminent Human Rights Catastrophe in Sudan's el-Obeid
The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, has raised alarms about a potential human rights catastrophe in Sudan's el-Obeid due to fears of an imminent…
UN human rights chief welcomes US-Iran deal, urges restraint in the region
UN human rights chief Volker Turk welcomed a peace deal between the United States and Iran on June 15, 2026, urging all sides to exercise…
UN Rights Chief Calls for Rethink of US Immigration Policies Ahead of FIFA World Cup
UN Rights Chief Volker Turk has urged the US to reconsider its immigration and security policies ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting concerns…
UN Human Rights Chief Urges Immediate Lifting of Sanctions on Cuba Due to Humanitarian Crisis
Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, has called for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Cuba, citing severe humanitarian consequences, including child…
Rights group says global executions hit 44-year record high
Amnesty International reported that global executions reached a 44-year high in 2025, with Iran being the primary contributor to this significant increase. The report highlights…
HRW urges 'coordinated diplomatic action' as Iran executes 28 since mid-March
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging UN member states to take coordinated diplomatic action to pressure Iran to halt executions, as Iranian authorities have carried…
Iran executes two political prisoners from ethnic minorities on spying charges for Israel
Iranian authorities executed two political prisoners, Naser Bakrzadeh (Kurdish) and Yaghoub Karimpour (Azeri), on May 2, 2026, on charges of spying for Israel. Rights groups…
Iran News in Brief – April 30, 2026
This brief from NCRI reports on several developments in Iran on April 30, 2026, including the execution of at least 21 people since the start…
UN Rights Chief Calls for Immediate Halt to Executions Amid Iran's Escalating Repression
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned Iran's increasing repression, including executions and mass arrests, urging an immediate halt to the death penalty and the…
Israel's Attacks on Lebanon Raise Tensions Post-Ceasefire
Israel's recent attacks on Lebanon, described as 'horrific' by UN human rights chief Volker Turk, have raised tensions shortly after a ceasefire. The situation involves…
UN Human Rights Chief Condemns U.S. Threats Against Iran's Civilization
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to annihilate 'a whole civilization' in Iran, labeling the rhetoric…
UN decries missile attack on Iran elementary school in emergency debate
The UN Human Rights Council held an emergency debate on March 28, where the UN human rights chief strongly condemned the US-Israeli bombing of an…
Gulf States and UN Warn Iran's Attacks Violate Sovereignty
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and UN rights chief Volker Turk have condemned Iranian attacks as violations of sovereignty, warning of serious consequences amid ongoing…