Women’s Federation and Global NGOs Warn UN Fiscal Crisis Could Spark Humanitarian Fallout

NEW YORK — As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year, it finds itself grappling with a deepening financial crisis that global women’s organizations warn could escalate into a humanitarian emergency if not urgently addressed.

A consortium of international women’s organizations, led by the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women – Geneva, has urged the UN to take immediate steps to resolve its liquidity crisis and safeguard its ability to uphold human rights worldwide.

In a statement sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres in August 2025, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Consortium, which includes the NGO Committee on the Status of Women – Vienna and other co-signatory partners, called for strengthened collaboration between the UN, its Member States, and civil society groups.

“We recommend that the Human Rights Council establish a new multi-stakeholder entity that amplifies the local voice, strengthens inter-agency linkages, and fosters genuine partnerships,” the statement read. “We cannot allow financial neglect to dismantle decades of progress, nor can we stand by while the world’s most vulnerable are silenced. Timely funding is the lifeline of justice, stability, and peace.”

Call for Structural Reform

Carolyn Handschin, Director of the WFWPI Office of UN Relations Geneva and President of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women – Geneva, said the current fiscal strain presents an opportunity for the UN to reexamine its operations and explore long-term, innovative solutions.

“The substantial reduction of humanitarian workforce and operational budgets is an opportunity to evaluate and listen to more innovative solutions that have long-term impact on the UN’s liquidity problem,” Handschin stated.

With over 25 years of NGO leadership experience, Handschin suggested creating a joint secretariat between the UN and civil society organizations to ensure a more efficient multilateral and multidisciplinary approach to addressing budgetary and organizational challenges.

Impact on Global Human Rights

The CSO Consortium emphasized that the UN’s financial crisis directly affects its ability to act as a neutral defender of human rights.

“Beyond operational setbacks, the crisis threatens the UN’s credibility as a neutral defender of human rights and risks reducing its founding principles to empty promises,” the group said. “The United Nations at 80 should not only be seen as a milestone but also as a turning point — a moment for reflection and bold transformation.”

The NGOs warned that financial instability could endanger essential services for women and vulnerable populations worldwide — from shelters for survivors of gender-based violence and legal aid programs to maternal health services and girls’ education.

Identified Causes of the Crisis

The Consortium cited several root causes of the UN’s fiscal distress:

• Delayed or withheld payments of assessed contributions.

• Rising global demands that far exceed current funding structures.

• Reduced trust and confidence in the United Nations, including concerns over equality and Security Council reform.

• Mismanagement and overspending.

  
  

Protecting Women’s Gains

The groups also warned that the crisis undermines commitments under the Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

“Without resources, guaranteeing prioritization and women’s leadership in peace processes, governance, and community decision-making are weakened or lost. Such setbacks are not temporary; they reverse decades of hard-won gains,” the statement added.

Handschin reiterated the importance of listening to civil society voices, saying it is crucial to finding inclusive, sustainable solutions that reflect the needs of all peoples.