The United Nations General Assembly approved a four-year extension for Volker Türk as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday, despite opposition from a minority of member states. The vote concluded with 144 countries in favor, while ten—including Russia, Israel, and the United States—voted against the extension.

Türk, who assumed the role in October 2022, has drawn criticism from some member states due to his outspoken remarks regarding conflicts involving Russia and Israel. He has been particularly critical of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and Israel’s operations in Gaza, positions that have contributed to the dissenting votes.

Following the vote, Türk expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting human rights globally. In a message posted on the social media platform X, he emphasized the importance of human rights as a response to current global challenges and pledged to dedicate himself fully to defending rights for all individuals everywhere.

The extension of Türk’s term came after a nomination by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who endorsed the continuation of Türk’s leadership in the office. Meanwhile, the United States had requested that the vote be postponed, contending that the process had been rushed without adequate consultation.

The decision to extend Türk’s mandate highlights ongoing tensions within the UN concerning human rights oversight, particularly in the context of contentious international conflicts. Despite the limited opposition, the strong majority vote underscores broad support for Türk’s approach to addressing human rights issues on the world stage.