Title:
NGOs and human rights
Authors:
Sapienza, S.
Year:
2009
Serial number:
1
Journal:
SpandaNews : newsletter of the Spanda Foundation
Volume:
III
Pages:
7
-
13
ISSN:
1824-7180
Language:
eng
Subject:
Culture, Society and Religion
Keywords:
non-governmental organizations
,
human rights
Abstract:
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as Amnesty International, are important partners of the United Nations for advocacy and protection of human rights. They have a formalized consultative status with the UN, and their rights and freedom of action are acknowledged in the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders. Their role is to document human rights violations, set standards and lobby for effective enforcement. Furthermore, they urge local governments to sign and ratify treaties and help ensure governmental compliance with international human rights norms. NGOs also play an important role in educating the global community and fight ignorance in all its forms. This article shows that NGOs are indispensable and that they have been crucial to attract attention to the use of torture, to the establishment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to the adoption of the UN Statute of the International Criminal Court and for the establishment of national Human Rights Institutions.
Organization:
Spanda Foundation
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2009 Spanda Foundation
Document type:
E-article
File:
135415.pdf