Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, announced the launch of a new fundraising campaign for $400 million for the year 2026. This is necessary to address pressing global human rights issues.
In 2025, staff from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in 87 countries monitored over 1,300 court cases, assisted 67,000 victims of torture, documented tens of thousands of violations, and helped free more than 4,000 people who had become victims of arbitrary detention.
As a result of reduced funding in 2025, the OHCHR was able to conduct only 5,000 monitoring missions, significantly fewer compared to 11,000 in 2024.
He also expressed regret that the OHCHR lost approximately 300 out of 2,000 staff members and was forced to significantly reduce or close its presence in 17 countries. This led to the cessation of vital programs for vulnerable and marginalized communities from Colombia to Guinea-Bissau and Tajikistan.
According to UN News Service data, the approved budget for the office in 2025 was $246 million, but only $191.5 million was actually received. In addition, $500 million was requested in voluntary contributions, of which donors provided only $257.8 million.
For 2026, the UN General Assembly approved the OHCHR budget at $224.3 million, which is 10 percent less compared to 2025. However, it remains unclear how much funding the office will ultimately receive. As part of its campaign for the next year, the OHCHR is requesting an additional $400 million in voluntary donations.
