WORLD - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday launched a $400 million funding appeal for 2026, warning that worsening global crises have left the international human rights system under severe strain.

Addressing UN member states, Türk said the cost of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) remains modest compared to the human consequences of underfunding.

Türk described the office as a lifeline for people affected by conflict and repression, noting its role in supporting victims, amplifying silenced voices, and backing human rights defenders who risk their lives.

The High Commissioner stressed that human rights are essential for inclusive economic development, warning that neglecting them deepens exclusion and fuels instability.

According to OHCHR, its staff monitored more than 1,300 trials in 87 countries in 2025, assisted 67,000 survivors of torture, documented tens of thousands of human rights violations, and helped secure the release of more than 4,000 people from arbitrary detention.

The office also worked with over 35 governments on the “human rights economy” approach, aimed at aligning economic policies with human rights standards.

Türk warned of the consequences of reduced funding, noting that monitoring missions dropped to 5,000 in 2025 from 11,000 in 2024.

He added that liquidity constraints prevented 35 scheduled dialogues by UN human rights treaty bodies and forced OHCHR to cut around 300 staff and close or significantly scale back operations in 17 countries.

For 2026, the UN General Assembly approved a regular budget of $224.3 million for OHCHR,10% less than in 2025, prompting the office to seek additional voluntary contributions to sustain its work.