| UN Volker Turk
Collaborated in Banning
Press Now Pontificates on
Budget Cuts in Geneva
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
UN GATE,
March 3 – How corrupt
and decrepit has the UN system
become under Antonio Guterres,
in this case due to Guterres?
Today's example is from the
Office of the High Commission
for Human Rights, to which
Guterres appointed his
unqualified crony Volker Turk
more than two years ago.
On March 3
in Geneva, Turk pontificated
that in today's US, "threats,
notably against journalists,
risk undermining the work of
independent media." Volker
Turk is a hypocrite.
Turk as a staffer
on Guterres' 38th floor did
nothing when his boss Guterres
had the critical Press roughed
up and thrown out. There
has been no due process since,
not even a response to Guterres'
Melissa Fleming to a pro bono inquiry
for Inner City Press from the
law firm Quinn Emanuel. Some
human righters.
OHCHR whistleblowers have
forwarded to Inner City Press:
Corrupt
OHCHR is in panic mode because
of financial crisis. Volker
Turk asked 500 million to
states but he budgets for 300
as he knows state do not trust
him as he continues doing
changes without approval from
member states.He extends
temporary staff for 30 days
while appointing Scandinavian
cronies for management
posts. Critical staff
and whistleblowers are in fear
of ruthless DHC Nada Al Nashif
and corrupt Kim Taylor. Where
is the oversight from member
states? Where is the duty of
care? Where is the
accountability for
mismanagement of funds last
two years?
Dear colleagues,
Ramadan Kareem to everyone celebrating.
I am writing to you at a challenging
time....
The US and other traditional donors are
signaling reductions, which we need to
address. Following discussions in the Senior
Executive Team (SET), I have therefore
approved an in-principle target XB budget of
USD300 million at our last meeting, keeping in
mind the proposed work plans of all Divisions,
and the identification of priorities for 2025.
We agreed on a series of measures, some
immediate, some to be implemented throughout
the year, to reach the goal of USD300 million.
On the Regular Budget, the highest
historical regular budget ever for OHCHR was
approved at 235 million for 2025. Due to
the serious liquidity situation, however, we
will receive a reduced allotment – the actual
level of which is yet to be confirmed by the
Controller. As of today, there is a temporary
hiring freeze in place against regular budget
funds. This is intended to control spending
and enable us to meet our obligations to
staff. Next steps are as follows:
Given reductions in our target XB budget
and our RB allotment, we will extend temporary
appointments through 30 April 2025, provided
the appointment was not as a leave replacement
or for a concluding project. Your line
managers will confirm this to you.
We will review all postponed and future
activities so that we can communicate a
realistic set of deliverables to our
stakeholders in light of these constraints. I
have already begun discussing with the
President of the Human Rights Council and will
be addressing Member States soon.
Directors are working to ensure that all
outputs are aligned with Office priorities and
that related staffing plans are completed for
financial review by 12 March.
By the end of March, the Office will be
able to communicate the results of this
assessment.
In the meantime, we will continue to
maximize our efforts to raise funds, leaving
no stone untouched.
I look forward to our town hall next week,
Warm regards,
Volker Türk
***
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