UN rights chief deeply worried about direction of US policy under Trump

By Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin

The United Nations rights chief expressed deep concern on Monday about a "fundamental shift in direction" by the United States under President Donald Trump, warning that divisive rhetoric is being used to deceive and polarise people.

"We have enjoyed bipartisan support from the U.S. on human rights over many decades ... I am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally," the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said in a speech which did not mention Trump by name.

"Policies intended to protect people from discrimination are now labelled as discriminatory...Divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive and polarize. This is generating fear and anxiety among many," he said.

Turk's speech to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva -- a body which Trump disengaged from in February -- are his strongest remarks so far on the impact of the new U.S. administration's policies.

Since taking office on January 20, Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programmes across the federal government and the private sector. USAID programmes were also paused for 90 days, while his administration reviews if they align with its 'America first' policy.

The U.N. human rights office's chronic funding shortages may be exacerbated by U.S. foreign aid cuts. The United States donated $35 million last year which accounted for about 15% of the total voluntary contributions received in 2024.

"Sweeping cuts to domestic social safety nets, climate finance and foreign aid signal a massive setback for human rights protection, for conflict prevention, and for global stability", Turk said.

In his global review of the state of human rights, Turk warned the core of an international order he said had brought unprecedented stability risked crumbling, as 120 conflicts rage around the world.

He raised concerns about national security laws stifling civic space in Hong Kong, saying he would raise this and other issues like Xinjiang and Tibet with Chinese authorities.

He also expressed alarm about the use of military weapons against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and called for Israel to stop its annexation threats. Israel, like the United States, has also disengaged from the Council, citing a bias against it.