Due in part to U.S. funding cuts, the U.N. Human Rights Council, or HRC, has had to limit its work. Investigations into rights abuses in Sudan, Palestine, and Ukraine were reportedly operating at approximately 30-60% of capacity as of July 2025.
Date: 7/25
Region: Global
Country: Global
Topic: Governance & Rights
Policy Lens: Democracy & Governance
Entry Type: System Impact
Additional Context: At the time of publishing, HRW noted that 79 countries still had not paid dues, with the U.S. being the biggest loss. Historically led by the HRC, investigations into situations of mass atrocities have been key tools for prevention, protection, and supporting access to justice. Mandated activities have been unable to move forward.
Devex Researcher Note: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or OHCHR, where the HRC sits, faced a $54.5 million regular budget shortfall and received $242 million less in voluntary contributions than requested in 2025. While many donors pulled back, this funding gap was driven in large part by reductions in U.S. foreign assistance — historically the largest source of U.N. human rights funding.
Source: HRW