Human Rights and NGOs Overview

Study Notes

UN cannot enforce punishment or compensation for human rights violations
Critics argue human rights development is skewed towards Western nations, prioritizing individual rights over collective rights
Human rights law continues to evolve, with potential future rights including democracy, development, internet access, and digital privacy

NGOs are independent from governments, though some may receive government funding
They are typically non-profit and active in humanitarianism
Some NGOs act as lobby groups for corporations
Globalization increased NGO importance in the 20th century, including anti-slavery and women's suffrage movements
The World Bank categorizes NGO activity into operational and advocacy categories

Advocacy NGOs: defend or promote a cause (e.g., human rights) influencing international organizations (IGOs) to attract media attention
NGOs operate at local, regional, national, and international levels
Charity: involves top-down giving efforts with little beneficiary participation
Participatory: involves local community self-help projects
Empowerment: helps people understand socioeconomic factors, enabling them to control their lives, (example: Oxfam's provision of tools and skills to gain access to food and water)
NGOs focus on humanitarian issues, development aid, and sustainable development to counterbalance international policies that prioritize capitalist interests

NGOs are funded by donations, corporate and private grants, and international organizations or national governments
Some NGOs, such as Greenpeace, refuse government funding
NGO employees earn 11-12% less than for-profit and governmental employees with similar qualifications
NGOs may employ international or local staff in developing countries
The budget for the Office of Refugee Resettlement increased from $1.8B in 2018 to $6.3B in 2022

Some NGOs are accused of being foreign-policy instruments, rather than purely altruistic
NGOs may not accurately represent the world or utilize misinformation
Greenpeace, founded in 1971, promotes environmental sustainability, protecting nature and has blocked illegal fishing activities in the Southern ocean
Oxfam (1942 founding ) fights poverty/famine, but faced some criticisms of worker's conduct and accepting corporate funds in 2018
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (1961 founding ) protects nature and wildlife, with some criticisms for their funding practices and alleged human rights violations and accusations of "green washing" (standing for vague or unsubstantiated environmental values)