The U.N. human rights office is facing a significant setback as the U.S. government has issued termination notices for five key projects, necessitating the closure of critical programmes, including assistance for torture victims in Iraq. This decision comes amid President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid as part of an extensive spending overhaul that will reshape global support.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, highlighted that the projects affected include initiatives in Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Ukraine, and Colombia, as well as support for indigenous communities. With funding from both the U.S. State Department and the Agency for International Development at risk, the U.N. will have to significantly reduce its operations in various affected regions.
This reduction includes the total shutdown of the Iraq programme, which played a crucial role in supporting torture victims and families of the disappeared. The U.N.’s human rights office, which works globally to document abuses, offer aid to individuals in unlawful detention, and safeguard human rights advocates, now faces a daunting challenge.
Traditionally, the U.S. has been the largest contributor to the U.N. human rights office, covering nearly 14% of its budget last year on top of mandatory fees. Shamdasani emphasised the pressing need for increased investment in human rights, asserting that such funding is vital for preventing and resolving conflicts. The call for heightened support for human rights initiatives is echoed by High Commissioner Volker Turk.
The U.N. human rights office must terminate five major projects due to U.S. funding cuts, affecting vital assistance for torture victims in Iraq. These cuts arise from a broader foreign aid overhaul by the Trump administration. The U.N. has been impacted globally, aiming to redeploy funding amidst the loss. With the U.S. being a major donor, calls for increased investment in human rights have intensified.
The recent funding cuts imposed by the U.S. on the U.N. human rights office herald a troubling chapter for essential global human rights initiatives. With crucial support programmes for torture victims, particularly in Iraq, now at risk, the importance of sustained investment in human rights becomes markedly clear. This financial contraction signifies not only a loss of resources but also a potential escalation in human rights abuses worldwide if not addressed promptly.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
