After Heated Debate, General Assembly Reappoints UN High Commission for Human Rights, Adopts Drafts on Sustainable Development, Peace, International Law
Following fraught deliberations on its reappointment of the standing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for another four-year term, the General Assembly today also adopted several draft texts concerning sustainable development, peace and international law.
The Assembly created the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights in 1994. On 8 September 2022, the Assembly approved the Secretary-General’s appointment of Volker Türk (Austria) for a fixed term of four years, beginning on 12 October 2022 and expiring on 11 October 2026. Earlier in July, the Secretary-General proposed that Mr. Türk be reappointed for a period of four years, beginning on 12 October 2026 and expiring on 11 October 2030.
Approving that renewal falls to the Assembly, but today’s meeting to do so saw no small amount of contention. It began with a proposal by the United States to postpone consideration of this renewal because that country’s representative said that there has been “severely limited opportunity for meaningful consideration on this serious and senior position”. However, that request was opposed by the representative of Ireland, speaking for the European Union, and defeated by a recorded vote of 63 against to 27 in favour, with 47 abstentions.
Russian Federation’s Proposal to Limit Commissioner’s Second Term Rejected
The Assembly then turned to a proposal by the Russian Federation that would have renewed Mr. Türk’s appointment only until the end of 2026 (document A/80/L.100). That country’s representative pointed out that this text, if adopted, would “synchronize” the High Commissioner’s term of office with that of the current Secretary-General. He added that renewing Mr. Türk’s mandate for a full four years would deprive the future Secretary-General of the opportunity to implement his or her vision “for years to come”.
Some delegations speaking before the Assembly voted on this proposal agreed that Mr. Türk should not be reappointed for another four-year term, albeit for different reasons.
Israel’s representative opposed the renewed appointment because she said that, under Mr. Türk, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has “adopted an unprofessional, politically motivated approach”. Similarly, the representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea expressed concern over the “growing tendency to misuse human-rights issues for political purposes”.
Also opposing Mr. Türk’s four-year reappointment, the representative of the United States stressed that this is “classic UN cronyism”, whereby “an outgoing Secretary-General [is] cutting a backroom deal to hand his long-term friend a four-year executive payout”. He warned that “there will be consequences” if the Assembly “tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals and the misuse of UN posts”.
Others felt differently, with the representative of Ireland, speaking for the European Union, pointing out that 81 days — the length of time the Russian Federation’s proposal would extend Mr. Türk’s term — is “almost no time at all”. He stressed that such a short term is “manifestly incompatible with the nature, scope and importance of the role of High Commissioner”. He also said that the Assembly resolution creating the post envisioned a fixed term of four years — “four years, not 81 days”.
The representatives of Uruguay and Mexico agreed on that point, with the latter adding that Mr. Türk has engaged in “solid and constructive work at the head of the Office”. Both delegates expressed support for the Secretary-General’s proposal to renew Mr. Türk’s term for four years, as did France’s representative, who emphasized that Mr. Türk has been “a voice of conscience, confronting States with reality and their responsibilities” throughout his tenure.
The Assembly then rejected the Russian Federation’s proposal for a shorter renewal by a recorded vote of 71 against to 19 in favour, with 52 abstentions.
And, because that proposal was not adopted, the Assembly then considered the Secretary-General’s original proposal (document A/80/797), even as the representative of the Russian Federation took the floor to point out that today’s discussion “became confusing for the international community”.
Commissioner Reappointed for Four More Years Until October 2030
Nevertheless, the Assembly approved the renewal of Mr. Türk’s appointment as High Commissioner for Human Rights for a period of four years — beginning on 12 October 2026 and expiring on 11 October 2030 — by a recorded vote of 144 in favour to 10 against (Argentina, Burkina Faso, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Israel, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago, United States), with 13 abstentions.
After the vote, the representatives of Ecuador, Iran and Paraguay expressed regret that today’s decision was not postponed, given the lack of sufficient time for delegations to review the Secretary-General’s proposal and reach consensus. Peru’s representative said that his delegation abstained because this could limit the incoming Secretary-General’s “room for manoeuvre”.
“Instead of a unifying agenda, the Secretary-General brought into the General Assembly yet another apple of discord,” stressed the representative of the Russian Federation. Expressing regret that his delegation’s proposal to “maintain the status quo until the end of the year” was not adopted, he recalled that 71 delegations opposed it. “Congratulating” Mr. Türk on his reappointment, he said: “Seventy-one delegations is exactly the mandate you have.”
2028-2029 Focus of Economic and Social Council, High-level Political Forum
The Assembly also took action on several other texts today. Two of them concerned the review of Assembly resolution 75/290 A on strengthening the Economic and Social Council and the review of Assembly resolution 75/290 B on the format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development and the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level.
Both were adopted by recorded vote, the first with 165 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Argentina), and the second with 164 in favour to 3 against (Argentina, Israel, United States), with no abstentions.
By the first (document A/80/L.97), the Assembly decided — among other matters — that the common main theme for both the Council and the high-level political forum during 2028 will be “Deliver, turning promises into action: scaling up transformative, just, inclusive, equitable and coordinated action to achieve sustainable development and deliver the 2030 Agenda and its Goals”. For 2029, the theme will be “All in: eradicating poverty and leaving no Goal behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda”.
The second (document A/80/L.98) saw the Assembly decide that the Council and the forum will review, in depth, Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 during 2028 and Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16 and 17 during 2029.
Malta’s representative, also speaking for Barbados — both of whom led negotiations on these texts — said they represent a “balanced outcome that reflects the views expressed by all delegations”. She emphasized that they make the Council and forum “more impactful and effective”, and thus advance efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, the representative of the United States said that these drafts direct money towards process, rather than results. Genuine reform should focus on efficiency and accountability by “cutting fat”, he said, emphasizing that these two resolutions “do the exact opposite”.
Meanwhile, the representative of Uruguay, speaking for the Group of 77 and China, said that the texts do not sufficiently reflect the need to enhance coordination between the Council and Bretton Woods institutions. He therefore called for more robust mechanisms for dialogue and consultation so the Council can fully exercise its Charter-mandated role.
Strengthening Culture of Peace
The Assembly also adopted the draft resolution titled “Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace” (document A/80/L.77/Rev.1) by a recorded vote of 169 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with no abstentions.
Through that text, the Assembly reiterated that the Programme’s objective is to strengthen the global movement for a culture of peace and called on all concerned to renew their attention towards this end. In that regard, the Assembly’s President was requested to consider convening a high-level forum during the eightieth session devoted to the Programme’s implementation.
Bangladesh’s representative, who introduced the draft, highlighted his country’s 25-year role in facilitating this initiative and said that the resolution has long served as a platform for reaffirming a shared commitment to peaceful coexistence. “Investing in a culture of peace is an investment in our survival,” he urged. However, while the representative of the United States said that his delegation supports such a culture, he opposed the draft because of its “politicized, controversial and distracting references”.
Role of Parliament in Speeding Up Social Development
Also adopted today by recorded vote was the draft resolution titled “Enhancing the role of parliaments in accelerating social development” (document A/80/L.94), which garnered 167 votes in favour to 1 against (United States), with no abstentions. In it, the Assembly emphasized the importance of parliamentary involvement in renewed commitment to unity, solidarity and multilateral cooperation to support social development and social justice.
2028 Proclaimed Year of International Law
The one draft resolution adopted by consensus today proclaimed 2028 as the Year of International Law (document A/80/L.88). By its terms, the Assembly encouraged Member States, the UN system and other relevant stakeholders to observe the Year through educational, capacity-building and public-awareness activities to promote respect for, and understanding of, international law. It also welcomed the intention of Turkmenistan to host a Global Forum on International Law in December 2028.
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* The 105th Meeting was not covered.