The White House has recommended significantly cutting US funding for nearly two dozen global programs investigating war crimes and promoting accountability. These programs include crucial work in Myanmar, Syria, and on alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine, according to US sources and internal documents reviewed by Reuters.
This recommendation from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is not a final decision. It offers the State Department an opportunity to appeal. However, it signals a potential conflict between the OMB and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the future of these vital initiatives. Programs in Iraq, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and The Gambia are also on the chopping block.
There's a slim expectation that Secretary Rubio will advocate for the continuation of many of these programs, say US officials. Yet, he may argue to preserve critical efforts, such as those supporting war crimes prosecutions in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter noted.
Several programs slated for termination directly support war crimes accountability in Ukraine. These include Global Rights Compliance, which gathers evidence of sexual violence and torture, and the Legal Action Network, a group aiding local prosecutions against Russian war crimes suspects.
The Trump administration's "America First" policy has led to billions in foreign aid cuts, impacting global humanitarian operations. This latest recommendation further suggests a de-prioritization of human rights and rule of law advocacy, a shift from previous US administrations.
Among the programs at risk is an $18 million State Department grant for Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office. While not directly impacting frontline efforts, these programs are crucial for documenting atrocities in Europe's largest conflict since World War Two.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2605952/world