United Nations chief Antonio Guterres proposed Wednesday a veteran Austrian diplomat to head the global body’s human rights office at a time when it is facing harsh criticism from China for accusing Beijing of abuses against Muslim minorities.
The proposal of Volker Tuerk, currently undersecretary-general for policy in Guterres’ office, needs to be approved by the UN General Assembly.
Tuerk, who spent many years working for the UN refugee agency, would succeed Michelle Bachelet of Chile as High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva.
Bachelet’s term ended in August with the release of a highly anticipated report on human rights in China’s western region of Xinjiang. The report accused Beijing of serious human rights violations against Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups that may amount to “crimes against humanity.”
Tuerk can also expect to face pressure from human rights activists. Amnesty International’s secretary-general, Agnes Callamard, said he is being appointed “at a time of considerable threats to human rights around the world.”
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