U.N. Human Rights Office in Survival Mode Amid Funding Cuts

U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk is appealing for $400 million to address global human rights issues after funding cuts. The U.N. office, receiving $100 million less than last year, has reduced operations impacting rights monitoring and gender-based violence prevention due to financial constraints.

The U.N. human rights chief, Volker Turk, urgently called for $400 million in funding to address rising human rights concerns in various countries, including Sudan and Myanmar. This appeal comes after significant donor funding cuts left the U.N. office operating in 'survival mode.'

This year's request is $100 million less than the previous year due to a substantial reduction in contributions from key donors such as the U.S. and Europe. This financial strain has led to a severe scale-back in the office's operations, limiting its ability to conduct critical human rights monitoring missions, Volker Turk explained in his Geneva speech.

In 2023 alone, the U.N. human rights office faced major operational setbacks. With funding shortfalls amounting to $90 million last year, Turk's office had to cut 300 staff positions, significantly diminishing its effectiveness. Such reductions have disrupted work across 17 countries and jeopardized initiatives like preventing gender-based violence and protecting LGBTIQ+ rights globally.

(With inputs from agencies.)