Volker Turk appealed for $400m after cutting operations in 17 countries.
Published on February 5, 2026
The United Nations’ human rights chief says his office has been pushed into “survival mode” as he appeals for $400 million to meet this year’s funding needs.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Thursday that budget cuts last year reduced operations in 17 countries, including Colombia, Myanmar and Chad.
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After the United States and other major Western donors slashed their humanitarian spending and support for UN-related agencies last year, Turk warned that the cuts were undermining global human rights monitoring as he clarified his agency’s funding needs.
“These cuts and cuts free the hands of criminals everywhere, leaving them to do whatever they want,” he told diplomats at his office’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “As the crisis grows, we cannot afford a human rights system in crisis.”
While the US government under former President Joe Biden was the top single donor to Turks’ agency in voluntary contributions of $36m in 2024, the current administration under President Donald Trump halted its contribution in 2025.
“I am grateful to our 113 funding partners, including governments, private and multilateral donors, for their significant contributions,” Turk said. “But we’re in survival mode right now, under stress.”
Trump has repeatedly said the UN has the potential but has failed to deliver. During his time in office, the US withdrew from UN agencies such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO, and cut funding to dozens of other agencies.
Last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned letter It sent to all UN member states that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” unless its financial rules are reformed or all 193 member states pay their dues.
Last year, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights appealed for $500 million in voluntary contributions but received $257 million. It received $191m through the regular budget, about $55m less than initially approved, The Associated Press news agency reported.