Friday, May 1, 2026

UN Rights Commish Volker Turk Wastes Public Funds in Mexico Dodging Disappearances Staff Say



UN Rights Commish Volker Turk Wastes Public Funds in Mexico Dodging Disappearances Staff Say

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, April 24 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Today's example is again from the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, to which Guterres appointed his unqualified crony Volker Turk more than two years ago.

 From OHCHR staff - "Dear Matthew Russell Lee, Today Volker Turk traveled to Mexico with full entourage (a media officer, a cameraman and his personal friend and crony Matthias Behnke). As OHCHR office in Mexico has had to fire half of its staff due to the budgetary crisis (aggravated by flamboyant Turk’s mismanagement) many wonder whether this is efficient use of tax-payers money. Does Volker Turk need to spend four business class plane tickets from Europe, plus hotel plus DSA, for a three day visit? Will “timid” Volker Turk dare to raise sensitive human rights issues with the authorities or he will continue his silent diplomacy approach avoiding speaking up to try to secure an extension of his cozy mandate?. The bar is low. Expectations are lower. Only the bill is high.

And from staff, after the junket:

Dear Matthew Russell Lee: Many thanks for your efforts to expose corruption in Guterres' UN. We are still wondering why narcissist Volker Turk traveled to Mexico with a 3 person entourage (including his personal friend Matthias Behnke and two press officers).

Apart from videos in touristic spots and admiring murals it is hard to see what was the objective of his mission. The most visible outcome is that timid Volker Turk succeeded in undermining the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances that had issued a red card to Mexico’s government and had requested the issue to be elevated to the UN General Assembly.

 Equidistant Volker Turk avoided the topic and the conflict with the authorities and authored a joint press-release (something unprecedented in OHCHR but the main Mexican objective to neutralize the Committee on Enforced Disappearances report). Turk’s staff also succeeded in offending many of the victims who got excluded from meeting the High Commissioner. So what was the purpose of the mission apart from very expensive bills? (Four business class tickets from Geneva, 5 star hotel, meals plus 230 dollars per day of DSA each!…. Member states, watch out, this is how the unearmarked funds are wasted. This is fraud to tax payers. Volker Turk, and all his cronies, must go at the end of his term. UN needs a new High Commissioner for Human Rights.

 As must Guterres at UNHQ - Inner City Press and FUNCA have sent a questionnaire on transparency and accountability to the now four (so far) candidates for UNSG, no answer from Rebeca Grynspan, watch this site. And nothing from Mike Waltz. Meanwhile both Big Tony and Amina are due on April 15 at the IMF which Inner City Press is accredited to cover,

Inner City Press re-applied to re-enter the UN on June 19, 2025 - no answer at all from Melissa Fleming, Tel Mekel, Stephane Dujarric for six months, then a denial with no reason at all given. Today's UN is corrupt.

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