UN human rights chief Volker Turk warns funding shortfalls have put his agency in ‘survival mode’, forcing cuts to critical global monitoring and protection work.
GENEVA: UN human rights chief Volker Turk launched a USD 400 million appeal for 2026 on Thursday, warning his agency is now “in survival mode” due to severe funding shortfalls.
He said the cuts are untying the hands of perpetrators everywhere and leaving endangered communities without a lifeline.
“Our reporting provides credible information on atrocities and human rights trends at a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship,” Turk stated.
“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.”
The office’s approved regular budget for 2025 was USD 246 million, but it received only USD 191.5 million.
It also secured just around USD 260 million of a requested USD 500 million in voluntary contributions.
“We are currently in survival mode, delivering under strain,” Turk said.
“These cuts and reductions untie perpetrators’ hands everywhere, leaving them to do whatever they please.”
The financial strain has forced drastic operational cuts, with the agency losing about 300 of its 2,000 staff last year.
It had to end or scale back work in 17 countries, affecting critical programmes in nations like Colombia, Guinea-Bissau and Tajikistan.
Its programme in Myanmar was slashed by 60%.
Human rights monitoring missions plummeted to just over 5,000 in 2025 across 87 countries, down from 11,000 the previous year.
“That means less evidence for both protection and prevention,” Turk explained.
For 2026, the UN General Assembly has approved a regular budget of USD 224.3 million, though payment remains uncertain amid a wider UN liquidity crisis.
Turk is now seeking USD 400 million in voluntary funding from member states to address the gap.
He argued that human rights work represents a small fraction of total UN spending but yields high-impact results that stabilise communities and build trust.
“The cost of our work is low; the human cost of underinvestment is immeasurable,” he concluded.
