The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, issued a stark warning on January 30, 2025, appealing for $500 million in funding for 2025 to support the office's critical work in investigating human rights abuses globally. Turk stressed that lives are at stake if the funding target is not met, as it would leave vulnerable populations without adequate support and allow human rights violations to continue unchecked.
The United Nations human rights chief urgently appealed for $500 million in funding for 2025, highlighting the critical need to support investigations into human rights abuses across the globe, from war-torn Syria to conflict-ridden Sudan. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that lives are at stake if the UN human rights office fails to secure the necessary resources.
He addressed member states in Geneva, expressing deep concern that unmet funding targets would leave vulnerable individuals and communities without adequate support.Turk emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that a shortfall in funding would result in more people languishing in illegal detention, discriminatory policies being implemented unchecked, human rights violations going unreported, and human rights defenders losing crucial protection. The UN human rights office currently operates on a shoestring budget, receiving approximately 5% of the regular UN budget. The majority of its funding relies on voluntary contributions received in response to its annual appeal.While Western states, particularly the United States and the European Commission, are the largest contributors, the office still falls significantly short of its funding goals. Last year, the UN human rights office received only about half of the $500 million it sought. This persistent funding gap poses a serious threat to the office's ability to effectively fulfill its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights worldwide
Human Rights Funding Crisis UN Human Rights Office Volker Turk Human Rights Abuses
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