Human Rights and NGOs & U.N.

Human Rights NGOs and U.N.

            The U.N. history is also found to be closely linked to the activities of the non-governmental organizations ( NGOs.). The international human rights NGOs, consisting of private individuals from different walks of life and being apolitical and voluntary organizations, made significant contributions to the international standard setting norms of human rights. They are also consulted by the U.N. and its agencies in making U.N. policies and programmes on human rights. A case in point is that the international human rights NGOs played an important role at San Francisco Conference while drafting the U.N. Charter. The insertion of human rights provisions in the Charter was also one of the remarkable ideas of such international NGOs. This is also a fact that the Economic and Social Council of the U.N. is mandated under article 71 of Charter to make suitable arrangements for consultation with the NGOs which are concerned with matters within its competence. Therefore, the works and contribution made by the human rights NGOs are recognized under the U.N. Charter. To mention some of those international NGOs, which have obtained the consultative status of the U.N., particularly in the area of human rights, are the Amnesty International, the Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists and the International Committee of Red Cross, among others.

 

            It is worth mentioning that such international human rights NGOs have not only acted as the indispensable partners of the U.N. for adoption of the global standard and norms of human rights but also become the stakeholders for implementation and enforcement of human rights laws and programmes. As a matter of fact, it would have been a difficult task for the U.N. to achieve and realize the objectives setforth in the Charter without the co-operation and co-ordination of such human rights NGOs. Even in the Indian domestic legal system, the credential role of human rights NGOs is recognized under section (12) (i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. This provision insists on the National as well as the state human rights commissions to encourage the initiatives, undertaken by such NGOs and other institutions working in the field of human rights.

 

Conclusion:

            The global initiatives and programs, adopted under the banner of the United Nations, especially in the field of human rights, are being carried out so as to realize the very purposes and objectives of the U.N. All the principal organs of the U.N. and their subsidiary bodies have made their meaningful contributions to the development of human rights law and rules for all the people and all the nations. To mention some of those unique contributions made in the area of human rights are, such as protection of the rights of women, children, workers, minority people, migrants and refugees among others. Apart from these developments, which are brought under the specific international multilateral treaties, adopted by the U.N., the prohibition of commission of various inhuman crimes, such as genocide, apartheid, racial discrimination, torture, crime against women and children, crimes against humanity and  peace have also been brought within  the fold of the positive international human rights law and system.