A UN Regional Centre for Human Rights Training and Research will be opened in Mongolia

May 11, 2026 Human Rights

Speaking with a lecture organized by the National Human Rights Commission at the National Museum of Chinggis Khan, the Turk noted the achievements of Mongolia.

“Mongolia adopted the first law on the human rights defender in the region and developed one of the first national action plans in the field of business and human rights,” said Volker Türk.

The High Commissioner also noted Mongolia’s contribution to international efforts to maintain peace.

“When I heard that the residents of Mongolia call the international community their ‘third neighbor,’ it seemed completely natural to me. Mongolia is open to the world. For decades, you have helped bring stability to countries affected by wars by participating in UN peacekeeping operations,” Tyurk emphasized.

He added that Mongolia’s status as a zone free of nuclear weapons could serve as an example for other states “at a time whenNuclear threat grows every day“.

Serious challenges

According to the regional commissioner, today Mongolia is facing several serious challenges at once.

“You are on the front edge of a climatic and ecological crisis, experiencing rapid urbanization and facing the economic consequences of wars waged thousands of kilometers away from here,” he noted.

Turk identified three directions in which, according to him, decisions should be based on the principles and obligations in the field of human rights.

The first is sustainable and inclusive development: “the success of economic development should be measured not by the amount of money, but by how much policy improves people’s lives”.

The second is the struggle against climate change. Given the current trajectory, according to Tyor’k, the temperature on the planet by 2100 will rise by at least 2.3 degrees Celsius, which could have catastrophic consequences for entire countries and regions, including Mongolia.

The third direction is the responsibility of business. “Business plays an important role in the development of Mongolia. I call on the corporate sector to build its activities and partnerships on a solid foundation of human rights,” Tyorok noted.

Progress in the field of human rights

During his visit, the Verkhovny Commissar met with representatives of civil society and also visited the Gandantegchinlin Monastery.

Summing up the results of the trip at a press conference in Ulaanbaatar on Monday, Tyrk noted that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visited Mongolia for the first time in almost 26 years of the Office’s existence, and emphasized that during this time the country and the entire region have undergone significant changes.

The Turkic group reported that the roadmap signed with the government provides for the creation of a UN regional training and research center on human rights in Ulaanbaatar.

The regional commissioner also warned that the democratic space cannot be perceived as something self-evident. Tyurk called for taking into account human rights when implementing large infrastructure and economic projects, especially regarding nomadic communities that may suffer from the consequences of rapid development.

He paid particular attention to issues of climate change, corruption, and digital technologies. Tüürk also welcomed the growth of women’s representation in the Mongolian parliament and noted that the country remains an “open space for LGBTIK+ representatives,” calling for continued protection of the rights of this community.

“As a friend of the country, I would like to call on Mongolia to continue to be a legislator of trends – both in the region and beyond – on the issue of human rights protection,” said Türk. The UN Administration is ready to support the country on this path.