UN Staff Critics of Rights Commish Volker Turk Write to Inner City Press about USUN Steggerda

UN Staff Critics of Rights Commish Volker Turk Write to Inner City Press about USUN Steggerda by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack UN GATE, Aug 6 – 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, Many thanks for exposing corruption in the UN  The list of grievances is long: 1) selective use by Volker Truk of his public voice and reporting mandate turning a blind eye to serious human rights violations. 2) Weaponise OIOS to repress whistleblowers and internal dissent (with complicity of his chief admin Kim Taylor self appointed focal point for OIOS in blatant conflict of interest). 3) Misuse tax payers earmarked funds for field work with huge cost recovery for HQ expenses (again through Kim Taylor). A detailed audit would reveal  how many millions earmarked for field work money is wasted in Geneva. 4) Misuse of taxpayers funds especially unearmarked for pointless trips (from Mexico to Mongolia or Jordan) with a full media entourage (cameraman and spokesperson) and cronies. 5) Perpetuate cronyism and patronage by appointing and promoting his personal friends (like Azra and Matthias Behnke and others).  6) Permit that Human Rights Council appointments are a back channel for OHCHR siblings to get cozy appointments with total disregard to conflict of interests (Iran, Colombia, Nicaragua…. many Special Rapporteurs. The list is long) 7) Use UN80 to fire young staff (mainly young women) with not one single D2, D1 or P5 affected by budget cuts since 2024. 8) Under the influence of advisers (like Peggy Hicks) use the UN as a politicized platform... Favor his home country Austria by opening a regional office there without a host country agreement signed exposing staff deployed there.  A full four year term with no tangible results. The Austrian apparatchik will not be remembered for any groundbreaking human rights report or principled stand but for turning OHCHR into an event organizer. His infamous UDHR75 wasted 6 million dollars for zero impact. Now the narcissist bureaucrat is planning a Global Alliance for Human Rights. How many colleagues will lose their job to pay the bill for Volker Turk’s endless ego? His Human Rights Investigation Branch has produced not a single relevant report. His Knowledge Hub is a black hole of funds. That’s OHCHR under Volker Turk. Will Amb Waltz and Amb Steggerda hold SG candidates accountable and force them to seriously look into OHCHR mismanagement? For now, doesn't look like it. Inner City Press remains banned from the UN, despite July 25, 2026 application, and its questions are not being answered... Watch this site. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2025 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com