The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: who holds the post and how it is filled
10 October 2026
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is Volker Turk of Austria, who heads the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva. The General Assembly reappointed him by 144 votes in favour to 10 against, with 13 abstentions. His four-year term runs from 12 October 2026 to 11 October 2030. The High Commissioner is the UN official who speaks publicly on human rights situations in individual countries and reports to the General Assembly. At the same meeting the Assembly adopted texts reviewing the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development, and proclaimed 2028 as the Year of International Law by consensus.
In plain words
OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights — The UN Secretariat department for human rights, headed by the High Commissioner.