The vacuum in global health funding caused by the U.S. cuts has led to thousands of individuals experiencing sudden and ongoing violations of their fundamental human rights, including their rights to life and health.
Date: 6/25
Region: Africa
Country: Ethiopia
Topic: Governance & Rights
Policy Lens: Global Health Security
Additional Context: International human rights law recognizes states’ obligations to ensure access to essential medicines, vaccines, and health care to prevent avoidable illness and death. U.N. bodies also call on wealthier states to help fulfill these rights by providing international assistance and cooperation when needed.
A June 2025 Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) research brief, based on interviews with 10 medical and public health experts working across Ethiopia, details how U.S. global health funding cuts between February and May 2025 reduced access to critical services. Impacts were especially acute in Tigray, where regional tensions have magnified the effects. Find the full report here.
Source: Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)