UN Rights Chief Seeks $400m for Global Needs

An artist in Colombia draws an image of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has launched a $400 million funding appeal for 2026 to address global human rights needs, warning that amid mounting crises, the world cannot afford a human rights system that is itself in crisis.

“The cost of our work is low; the human cost of underinvestment is immeasurable,” Türk told member states at the launch. “In times of conflict and in times of peace, 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.”

In 2025, staff from the UN Human Rights Office working in 87 countries observed more than 1,300 trials, supported 67,000 survivors of torture, documented tens of thousands of human rights violations, and contributed to the release of more than 4,000 people from arbitrary detention.

Türk also stressed that addressing inequalities and respecting economic and social rights are vital to peace and stability. “Human rights make economies work for everyone, rather than deepening exclusion and breeding instability,” he said.

In 2025, the Office worked with more than 35 governments on the “human rights economy” initiative, which aims to align economic policies with human rights. In Djibouti, for example, it helped conduct a human rights analysis of the health budget, focusing on people with disabilities. The Office also provided critical human rights analysis to numerous UN country teams working on sustainable development.

Türk outlined several consequences of reduced funding in 2025. The Office conducted only 5,000 human rights monitoring missions, down from 11,000 in 2024. Its programme in Myanmar faced cuts of more than 60 percent. In Honduras, support for demilitarisation of the prison system, as well as justice and security sector reforms, was reduced. In Chad, advocacy and support for nearly 600 detainees held without legal basis had to be discontinued.

“Our reporting provides credible information on atrocities and human rights trends at a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship. It informs deliberations in both the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council and is widely cited by international courts, providing critical evidence for accountability,” he said.

The liquidity crisis affecting the UN’s regular budget has also significantly affected the broader human rights system. For example, 35 scheduled state party dialogues by UN human rights treaty bodies could not take place.

Four out of eight planned country visits by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture had to be cancelled. UN special rapporteurs’ ability to conduct country visits was curtailed, and the Human Rights Council’s investigative bodies were unable to fully carry out their mandates.

Türk also expressed regret that the Office lost approximately 300 staff members out of a total of 2,000 and was forced to close or significantly reduce its presence in 17 countries, ending programmes critical for endangered, threatened, or marginalised communities, from Colombia and Guinea-Bissau to Tajikistan.

“All this is weakening our ‘protection by presence’ — a simple idea with powerful impact: that the physical presence of trained human rights officers on the ground deters violations and reduces harm,” Türk said.

In 2025, the Office’s approved regular budget was $246 million, but it received only $191.5 million, resulting in a $54.5 million shortfall. It also requested $500 million in voluntary contributions and received only $257.8 million.

The UN human rights chief thanked 113 funding partners — governments, multilateral donors, private entities, and others — that contributed to the 2025 budget and helped save and improve lives.

For 2026, the UN General Assembly has approved a regular budget of $224.3 million, based on assessed contributions from member states. This amount is 10 percent lower than in 2025, and further uncertainty remains over how much the Office will actually receive due to the UN’s ongoing liquidity crisis.

Through its 2026 appeal, the Office is seeking an additional $400 million in voluntary contributions.

“Historically, human rights account for an extremely small portion of total UN spending. We need to step up support for this low-cost, high-impact work that helps stabilise communities, build trust in institutions, and support lasting peace,” Türk said.

“And we need more unearmarked and timely contributions so we can respond quickly, as human rights cannot wait.”