At a moment of global crackdowns and mass atrocities, the UN’s human rights watchdog says it is running out of money — and time.
GENEVA — The United Nations’ top human rights official warned Thursday that the UN Human Rights Office has entered “survival mode,” crippled by severe funding shortfalls even as global abuses intensify.
Speaking at the UN’s human rights headquarters in Geneva, Volker Türk said his office is struggling to maintain operations amid mounting financial pressure, prompting the launch of a $400 million appeal for voluntary funding for 2026.
“At a time when human rights are under significant assault worldwide, our capacity to respond is being dangerously undermined,” Türk told diplomats. “We are a lifeline for the abused, a megaphone for the silenced, and a steadfast ally to those who risk everything to defend the rights of others.”
A Widening Funding Gap
In 2025, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights received just $191.5 million of its $246 million regular budget approved by the UN General Assembly. Voluntary contributions also fell short: the office raised $257.8 million of the $500 million it sought.
The consequences have been stark. The agency lost roughly 300 staff members last year — nearly 15% of its workforce — and was forced to scale back or shut down operations in 17 countries. Its program in Myanmar alone was cut by 60%.
“These cuts untie perpetrators’ hands everywhere,” Türk warned. “With crises mounting, we cannot afford a human rights system in crisis.”
The funding crunch comes as the broader United Nations faces a liquidity emergency. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned last week that the organization could run out of cash by July unless member states pay their dues.
Human rights work has been particularly exposed. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is among several international bodies hit by a global pullback in funding, led by the United States, historically the UN’s largest donor, which sharply reduced contributions after President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Although the General Assembly approved a $224.3 million regular budget for human rights in 2026, Türk said uncertainty remains over how much funding will actually materialize.
Fewer Missions, Higher Risks
The strain is already visible on the ground. In 2025, UN human rights staff conducted 5,000 monitoring missions across 87 countries — less than half the 11,000 missions carried out in 2024.
“That means less evidence for protection and prevention,” Türk said.
Despite limited resources, the office supported 67,000 survivors of torture and modern slavery, documented tens of thousands of abuses, and exposed systemic discrimination in more than 100 countries.
Its work has included maintaining the most comprehensive verified record of civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia’s 2014 invasion, documenting the 2024 crackdown in Bangladesh, and uncovering patterns of violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that may amount to crimes against humanity.
‘High Impact, Low Cost’
Türk stressed that human rights work accounts for only a small fraction of UN spending but delivers disproportionate benefits by stabilizing communities, strengthening institutions, and preventing conflict.
“The cost of our work is low,” he said. “The human cost of underinvestment is immeasurable.”
As governments tighten budgets and geopolitical tensions rise, Türk urged donors not to abandon what he called one of the UN’s most essential — and most underfunded — mandates: holding power to account when no one else can.
