Volker Türk

Too many of our systems and policies turn health into a commodity and solidarity into a transaction. This vision is wrong – and harmful to all. At the @UN_HRC Social Forum, I called on States to prioritize cooperation and invest in people’s basic rights: ohchr.org/en/statements-and-…

Earlier today, I met with the media at @UN headquarters in New York, and encouraged them to keep shedding light on human rights crises around the world. webtv.un.org/en/asset/k18/k1…

Human rights are concrete, strategic tools to build a social contract and prevent the abuse of power. Without respect for human rights, no peace agreement will last, and development will never be sustainable. ohchr.org/en/statements-and-…

Israel’s operation in Hebron has forced over 2,000 Palestinians from their homes. Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law, and threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods raise serious concerns about ethnic cleansing. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

The idea of all nations coming together to protect people from war and injustice is radical. And it works. On this @UN Day, let's remember all the lives saved and improved through multilateralism – and all those who still need our support. Let us not give up on that idea.

I condemn escalating drone strikes in Sudan, which killed more than 300 people in the first three weeks of October. Strikes on camps for displaced people and healthcare facilities are completely unacceptable and may constitute war crimes. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

Mass protests in several European countries are giving rise to human rights concerns, and I call on all those involved to reduce tensions. Violence only serves those who wish to distract attention from genuine grievances; dialogue is the only way forward. ohchr.org/en/statements-and-…

Yemen: I am alarmed over the encirclement of Taiz by the Houthis, which puts civilians at grave risk and cuts off essential supplies. Humanitarian aid must be allowed in, and civilians who want to leave must be allowed to do so freely and safely. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

Biodiversity loss is not only an environmental crisis; it’s a human rights crisis. I hope #COP17Armenia will drive a massive shift towards policies and practices that protect and restore nature, rather than destroying it.

Inflation is on the rise, putting even more pressure on people struggling to make ends meet. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I call on States to build economies that put people and their rights first – giving everyone a fair chance.

More than a quarter of humanity struggle to get enough food, or food of adequate quality. Not because of scarcity, but because of injustice and the denial of human rights. We urgently need to fix the systems and policies that starve people in a world of plenty. #WorldFoodDay

It was a pleasure to speak to the UN’s Member States today about the work of my Office. My message: Human rights provide solutions to some of today’s most pressing challenges. ohchr.org/en/statements-and-…

Imagine a world where people readily come together to tackle shared challenges. The Global Alliance for Human Rights aims to bring that world closer. Participation is open. Let’s show that solidarity – and human rights – are a force to be reckoned with. globalalliance.un.org/partic…

Leaving Iceland with gratitude for engaging discussions with the government, parliamentarians, and civil society. A timely reminder of the vital role of small States in advancing human rights. We need open dialogue to resolve challenges both at home and globally.

I am appalled by the recent attacks by the Houthis on airports in Saudi Arabia. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law. I urge all parties to de-escalate and avert further catastrophe. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

In our era of perilous fractures, the 1986 Reykjavik Summit is a reminder of times when world leaders overcame the sharpest of ideological differences – and the threat of nuclear war – to create a space for dialogue. My remarks to the Imagine Forum ohchr.org/en/statements-and-…

In Iceland to comemmorate the 1986 Reykjavik Summit. This spectacular environment, and the anniversary of a milestone for global dialogue, are a reminder: there is more that unites us than divides. Human rights are the key to finding common ground.

The UN opposes capital punishment in all circumstances, and recent events have made the reasons crystal clear: it is incompatible with the right to life, and can involve torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. I urge all countries to end executions now.

My Office’s latest research found widespread anxiety, depression, and trauma among young people worldwide – a human rights emergency. On this Mental Health Day, let’s commit to ensuring that every child and young person gets the support they need. ohchr.org/en/statements-and-…

The imposition of institutional sanctions by the United States government against the International Criminal Court is unacceptable. My statement: ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…