UN Human Rights Office Seeks $400 Million in Funding

In Geneva, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk announced Thursday that his office is operating in survival mode, appealing for 400 million dollars in voluntary contributions to cover its estimated needs for the year following significant funding reductions that hampered operations in 17 countries, including Colombia, Myanmar and Chad.

Türk presented the funding request to diplomats at the office's headquarters overlooking Lake Geneva, highlighting how cuts from traditional Western donors, including the United States, have undermined global human rights monitoring. The office relies primarily on voluntary contributions from member states, supplemented by a portion of the regular U.N. budget. Last year, it sought 500 million dollars in voluntary funds but received only about 258 million dollars. Its allocation from the regular budget came to 191 million dollars, 55 million dollars short of the initial approval.

The United States halted its voluntary contributions in 2025. In the previous year, it had been the largest single donor, providing 36 million dollars. Other donors also reduced support: France contributed nothing last year after giving more than 5...