Austrian lawyer and United Nations official who has been UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since October 2022. He previously held senior posts at the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and served as under-secretary-general for policy in the office of the UN secretary-general.
DI has documented statements by Volker Türk on Antisemitism, International Relations, and Israel. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
Role at the time: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on his X account
Defended or excused
Statement summary
On X on October 9, 2026, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk congratulated Navi Pillay, whom he called a dear friend, on the Nobel Peace Prize and said she has shown what courage, integrity and an unwavering belief in human rights and the law can achieve.
“Warmest congratulations to my dear friend and former UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay on the Nobel Peace Prize! She has shown what courage, integrity and an unwavering belief in human rights and the law can achieve.
Thank you, Navi, for inspiring us all.”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Navi Pillay's work for international justice. UN Watch condemned the award, alleging that her record on Israel and antisemitism disqualified her.