GENEVA, Switzerland — UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Thursday his agency was “in survival mode” due to funding shortfalls, as he launched a $400 million appeal to tackle global rights crises in 2026.

“Our reporting provides credible information on atrocities and human rights trends at a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship,” Turk said.

“We are a lifeline for the abused, a megaphone for the silenced, and a steadfast ally to those who risk everything to defend the rights of others.”

Turk’s office has been bitterly critical of Israel, and last month accused it of apartheid in the West Bank, an allegation Israel denies. Israel charged that the UN Human Rights Office  has an “inherently politically driven fixation… on vilifying Israel.”

In 2025, the UN Human Rights Office’s approved regular budget — set by the UN General Assembly — was $246 million, but it received only $191.5 million.

It also requested $500 million in voluntary contributions, of which it received around $260 million.

“We are currently in survival mode, delivering under strain,” said Turk.

“These cuts and reductions untie perpetrators’ hands everywhere, leaving them to do whatever they please. With crises mounting, we cannot afford a human rights system in crisis.”

This year, the General Assembly approved a regular budget of $224.3 million, though with the United Nations facing a liquidity crisis, uncertainty remains over how much Turk’s office will receive.

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© The Times of Israel