LGBTIQ+ rights programming from the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has been significantly weakened in part due to U.S. funding cuts. The primary U.N. LGBTQI+ rights campaign's activities were reduced by 75% and staffing by 40%.
Date: 2/26
Region: Global
Country: Global
Topic: Governance & Rights, Gender Equality & Inclusion
Policy Lens: Democracy & Governance
Entry Type: Operational Impact
Additional Context: This information was provided in the U.N.'s Human Rights Appeal for 2026 by Volker Türk, current U.N. Human Rights Chief. According to the OHCHR, the U.N. Free & Equal campaign content in 2025 was seen by 34 million fewer persons globally than in 2024 — a drop of 68%, while there was a 75% reduction in its budget for critical monitoring, technical cooperation and advocacy work at national, regional and global level
Devex Researcher Note: The OHCHR faced a $54.5 million regular budget shortfall and received $242 million less in voluntary contributions than requested in 2025. While framed as a multi-country issue with many donors pulling back, the 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: OHCHR