The 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council
15 June – 10 July 2026
Item 2: ID on HC annual report
16 June 2026
The UN Human Rights System is Running out of Money: Addressing the Global Financial Crisis and Threats to Human Rights Protection during HRC62
By Rocío Gómez Rodríguez / GICJ
Executive Summary
The 2026 Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), arrives at a "defining crossroads" for the international protection of human rights. Covering activities from July 2025 to March 2026, the report highlights a global landscape where human rights are under "unprecedented strain" due to escalating conflicts, deepening inequality, and a severe UN liquidity crisis. This financial instability has paralysed the system, leading to the cancellation of 30 weeks of treaty body sessions, the deferral of 46 State reviews, and a significant reduction in the Office’s monitoring and field presence.
During the Interactive Dialogue, delegates expressed diverse and often polarised views on the state of global human rights. Groups of Friends and the European Union reaffirmed their support for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as an "indispensable pillar," while condemning atrocities in Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan, and Iran. Conversely, the African Group and ASEAN emphasised the need for a balanced approach between human rights and the right to development, alongside urgent calls for de-escalation in the Middle East. While States like Ukraine and Palestine pleaded for accountability for "catastrophic" humanitarian situations and "genocide," others, such as China and Russia, criticised the OHCHR for what they described as "selective and biased" mandates or external "smears" against their sovereignty. High Commissioner Volker Türk concluded the dialogue by reminding Member States that human rights are "binding international law" and that the current financial weakening is creating a dangerous lack of global scrutiny.
Read the full report by clicking on the image below:
