GENEVA(Reuters)– UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk seeks to expand his work by establishing offices in China and India, two of the world’s most populous countries , called for further strengthening of the office. The human rights situation in these countries is under investigation and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for action.
The United Nations Office for Human Rights was established after World War II and currently operates in 95 countries. Its pioneers play a key role in identifying suspected human rights abusers and working with affected countries to foster positive change.
Volker Turk, who was appointed Grand Commissioner at the end of 2022, called for greater participation in his opening speech at the UN Office for Human Rights. He specifically named countries such as Syria, Iran, Israel and Russia and encouraged them to do more to protect human rights.
“We are currently considering expanding our engagement,” Turk said at the outset of the four-week session of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. He said the world was “on the ground” long after the General Declaration of Human Rights was passed, and stressed the importance of building partnerships for the first time in China and India.
A response to Mr. Turk’s request for comment from the China-India Reconciliation Mission in Geneva is now awaited.
Setting up an office in China could be a challenge for Turk’s team. It took a long time to prepare to give his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, the chance to visit China in 2022. Although China has consistently denied any human rights abuses, these talks were somewhat influenced by concerns over the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
The United States has expressed concern over the growing number of violations by Indian authorities. But the unsettled Delhi has reiterated his determination to uphold his human rights.
UN human rights officials noted that Mr. Turk had raised the idea of creating modern workplaces in China and India in meetings with governments, but did not offer any interesting clues about the government’s reaction beforehand. clarified. More broadly, Mr. Turk expressed concern, without giving a specific name, about the “strangling of benevolent societies” in many countries.
Additionally, Turk has expressed his intention to double the office’s budget to strengthen global surveillance. In any event, this goal can be difficult to achieve as many countries restrict prescreening due to national power concerns. Although human rights are one of the four pillars of the United Nations, which stand for peace and security, law enforcement and progress, human rights receive only 4% of the total budget.
Turk also called on the United States to critically consider racial segregation and ratify six human rights treaties, including one that focuses on children’s rights. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has decided to step up its oversight of human rights around the world and looks forward to the support of the international community in building partnerships in China and India, two countries of great global importance.
