UN Funding Crisis Undermines Human Rights Council’s Work

The UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, addresses global rights violations and makes year-round recommendations on key issues.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) has expressed concern over the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ announcement that certain activities mandated by the council cannot be delivered due to a lack of funding. The council has sought clarity on why specific activities were singled out.

Among the activities the commissioner says cannot be delivered is the commission of inquiry into grave abuses in Eastern Congo—an important initiative established at an emergency session of the HRC in February, in response to appeals by Congolese, regional, and international rights groups.

The establishment of the commission offered a glimmer of hope amid ongoing atrocities in the region. It was seen as a potential step toward ending the cycle of abuse and impunity, and delivering justice and reparations for victims and survivors.

However, it's not only the highlighted activities that are affected by the funding crisis. Virtually all of the HRC’s work has been impacted, with investigations into rights abuses—for example in Sudan, Palestine, and Ukraine—reportedly operating at only 30–60 percent capacity.

During discussions about the proposed cuts, several states—particularly those credibly accused of rights abuses—have sought to use the financial crisis as cover to attack the council’s country-focused investigative mandates or undermine the Office of the High Commissioner’s broader work and independence. For example, Eritrea invoked the crisis in its (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt to end council scrutiny of its own dismal rights record.

Amid discussions on the ongoing crisis, there has been little reflection among states on how the UN reached this point. Member states’ failures to pay their contributions—or to pay them on time—have compounded the chronic underfunding of the UN’s human rights pillar over decades.

The United States’ failure to contribute significantly at present, along with China’s delayed payments, are largely responsible for the current financial shortfall, as both nations account for nearly half of the UN’s total budget.

They are not alone: reportedly, 79 countries have yet to pay their fees for 2025 (which were due in February). Among those yet to pay are Eritrea, Iran, Cuba, Russia, and others that have used the funding crisis to undermine the council’s country-specific mandates or challenge the independence of the high commissioner’s office.

Rather than exploiting the crisis to interfere with the council’s work, states should cooperate with the UN to ensure sufficient funding—at least to allow partial implementation of all activities mandated through the council, especially in emergency contexts.

Urgent investigations into mass atrocities are essential tools for prevention, protection, and access to justice. They cannot be postponed until the financial crisis is resolved.

Lucy McKernan is United Nations Deputy Director for Advocacy at Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Hilary Power is HRW’s UN Geneva Director.