UN Rights Chief Says Office in Survival Mode Due to Funding Crisis

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Seeks Funding to Cover Operational Costs

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has appealed for $400 million in funding this year, citing significant budget cuts that have reduced its operations in 17 countries worldwide. Volker Turk, the UN’s human rights chief, stated that the agency is currently operating in “survival mode” due to these reductions.

According to Turk, the cuts resulted from decreased humanitarian spending and support for UN-linked agencies by major donors, including the United States. The US government provided $36 million in voluntary contributions to Turk’s agency in 2024, but halted its contributions in 2025 under the current administration.

Turk expressed gratitude to the agency’s 113 funding partners, including governments, private donors, and multilateral organizations, for their support. However, he noted that the agency is facing significant challenges due to the cuts.

The US has withdrawn from several UN bodies during Trump’s presidency, including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, and cut funding to numerous other agencies. The UN Secretary-General recently warned of an “imminent financial collapse” unless the organization’s financial rules are revised or all member nations pay their dues in full.

In 2023, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights initially requested $500 million in voluntary contributions but received only $257 million. It also received $191 million through the regular budget, which is approximately $55 million less than the initial approval.

Source: Al Jazeera