US EditionUN human rights chief warns of impunity for perpetrators as he seeks extra funds
Volker Türk seeks $400 million after a $90 million shortfall forced 300 job cuts and reduced monitoring missions by half, impacting 17 countries including Sudan and Myanmar.
- On Feb 5 in Geneva, Volker Türk appealed for $400 million to meet this year's needs, saying `We are currently in survival mode, delivering under strain`.
- Amid donor pullbacks, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights sought $500 million last year but received only $262 million, as the United States halted contributions and France and Britain reduced outlays.
- Cuts forced the OHCHR to reduce its presence in 17 countries, and the Myanmar programme was cut by more than 60%, with assistance declined for nearly 600 detainees in Chad.
- Forced layoffs and curtailed investigations have immediate effects on accountability and protection, as last year a $90 million shortfall caused 300 job cuts and hindered the Democratic Republic of the Congo war-crimes probe while gender-based violence and LGBTIQ+ protection programmes fell up to 75%.
- With OHCHR reports informing U.N. Security Council debates, Türk warned cuts 'untie perpetrators' hands' and said `This means more hate speech and attacks, and fewer laws to stop them`.
62 Articles
62 Articles
UN Human Rights Office Launches USD 400 million Appeal to Address Global Human Rights Needs
An artist in Colombia draws an image of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Credit: UN Colombia/Jose Rios Source: UN News By UN High Commission for Human RightsGENEVA, Feb 6 2026 (IPS) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has launched a USD 400 million funding appeal for 2026 to address global human rights needs, warning that with mounting crises, the world cannot afford a human rights system in crisis. “The cost of our w…
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today appealed for voluntary contributions from countries to the $400 million (€340 million) his office needs this year to respond to global human rights needs, warning that the office is currently "in survival mode" due to a lack of funding.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that, for lack of sufficient funding, the organization was currently "in survival mode".
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