UNIT 10 ROLE OF NGOs IN PEACE PROCESS

Structure
10.1 Introduction
Aims and Objectives
10.2 Who is an NGO?
10.2.1 Types of NGOs
10.2.2 The Importance of NGOs
10.2.3 Methods and Strategies used by NGOs

10.3 Some Prominent NGOs

10.4 Taking up a Cause
10.5 Summary
10.6 Terminal Questions
Suggested Readings

10.1 INTRODUCTION
True peace is not just a mere absence of war. It is a situation where in addition to the
absence of war, there is no hunger or poverty and the people are happy, healthy, safe,
and wise and can lead a sustainable life. So creating lasting peace is a multi-dimensional
activity wherein NGOs are emerging as crucial players. While, to a great extent, it is the
responsibility of governments, sovereigns and states to ensure this, the truth is that these
very governments start wars, permit human rights abuses or environmental damage or
jeopardise human security. Seeing the futility of relying on governments, NGOs, that is,
Non-governmental organisations emerged as a counterforce to such powers. NGOs have
often come into being because an individual or a few committed people have recognised
problems that are inadequately addressed by governments. Their cause usually spreads by
word of mouth and of late, through the internet. They are rarely well funded but are
driven by their great power of commitment and compassion to create a more peaceful
and equitable world. Often they have to fight relentlessly against huge authoritarian powers
and against great odds. In this Unit, we will study what is an NGO, their role, goals,
methods adopted by them and the wide range of issues they are involved in. We will
study some landmark achievements by specific international NGOs who have even
received a Nobel Prize for their efforts.
Aims and Objectives
After studying this Unit, you should be able to know
 Who are NGOs;
 Different categories of NGO’s and their goals;
 The important role they play in ensuring peace and justice in society; and the
 Steps employed by renowned NGOs to achieve their goals.
Role of NGO’s in Peace Process 105

10.2 WHO IS AN NGO?

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) is a term that has become widely accepted as
referring to a legally constituted, non-governmental organisation created by an individual or
a group of people with no participation or representation of any government. Even in
cases where the NGO is partially or totally funded by the government, it maintains its
non-governmental status and excludes government representatives from membership in the
organisation. Many prominent NGOs accept donations only from individuals so as to
maintain their independence. They are also defined as ‘civil society organisations’. Some
peace activists like Dr.Jan Oberg feel that the term non-governmental organisation carries
a negative prefix ‘non’ and a more positive designation would be ‘people’s organization’.
Dr.Hazel Henderson, world- renowned futurist also prefers not to use such a negative
prefix like ‘non’ and so refers to them as CSO’s or civil-society organisations. In fact
this is what they are – civil society in action- not for profit, citizen-based and promoting
public interest over vested interests. Other alternative terms used are, civil society,
volunteer sector, non-state actors and grassroots organisations.
The term non-governmental organisation or NGO was not in common use before the UN
was formed. The manner in which the NGO sector has exploded or multiplied in the last
100 years, particularly after World War II, is really interesting. They were a hardly
noticed group in the past, with perhaps the exception of the International Red Cross. In
1909 there were about 17 NGO’s and by 1998 it rose to more than 23,000. In 1948,
shortly after the formation of the United Nations, the number of NGOs in Consultative
Status with the UN stood at 41, in 1968 it was 500 and 1992 it was 1000. As of
September 2008, there are 3183 in consultative status with the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) and about 400 NGOs accredited to the Commission on
Sustainable Development (CSD). The number of internationally operating NGOs is
estimated at 40,000. National numbers are even higher with India’s figures being estimated
as between 1 to 2 million.

10.2.1 Types of NGOs

NGOs are often broadly classified as Operational NGOs or Advocacy NGOs. Operational
NGOs are further divided into relief-oriented or development-oriented organisations as
their primary purpose is to design and implement development-related projects. Advocacy
NGOs’ primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause. These organisations try
to raise awareness and knowledge by lobbying, media work and activist events.
A further classification can be made into six groups according to the nature of work they
do, namely, Humanitarian, Human Rights, Capacity Building, Conflict Resolution and
Conflict Monitoring, Disarmament and Environmental. It is important to understand that
these are broad classifications and in reality they often take up more roles or the nature
of their work changes according to the demands of the situation. For instance, many
humanitarian NGOs are also involved in conflict prevention or resolution activities in
addition to their main efforts in relief and development.
1) Humanitarian NGOs (e.g. CARE, OXFAM, Soka Gakkai, Red Cross, Doctors
Without Borders). They divide their work between relief and development efforts.
Relief work is usually short-term and aimed at providing quick emergency relief
during natural or man-made disasters. The nature of work undertaken is airlifting and
distribution of food, medicines, safe water, providing tents, temporary shelters,
106 Civil Society, Political Regimes and Conflict

counselling, preventing epidemics, etc. Development projects are usually long-term

projects aimed at helping communities to achieve sustainable social, economic and
political structure by focusing on education, employment and infrastructure needs.
2) Human Rights NGOs. (e.g. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch). These
are advocacy organisations who promote basic rights for all people. They research
and provide information to governments and the press about human rights abuses and
repression, set standards for human rights which are then lobbied for so that the
governments ratify and make treaties, provide direct assistance to victims of human
rights abuses. The landmark UDHR came into existence due to persistent lobbying
by NGOs, notably by the American Jewish Committee. They play the dual role of
educating officials and the public and exerting pressure on institutions to condemn
offending parties- a process known as ‘shaming’.
3) Capacity Building NGOs. (e.g. International Center on Non violent Conflict, Open
Society Institute). They engage in activities like making public policies to promote
transition from communism or totalitarianism to democratic governance or from
conflict to peace. Their goal is to empower the local communities and also address
issues like free and fair elections, freedom of speech, economic and legal reform.
4) Conflict Resolution and Monitoring NGOs (e.g. TFF, Centre for Humanitarian
Dialogue, International Crisis Group). They are conflict mediation organisations
especially dedicated to prevent and resolve armed conflicts through dialogue. They
facilitate negotiations and ensure that accepted solutions are upheld. Sometimes they
initiate dialogue between the warring parties and other times they monitor and
expedite the dialogue. One of the most important contributions that NGOs make in
conflict zones is to help with meeting basic human needs of food, water, shelter and
health care. They also conduct peace research and education, make efforts to
improve conflict understanding at all levels and promote alternate security and global
development based on non violent politics, economics, sustainability and ethics of
care.
5) Disarmament NGOs (e.g. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, International Campaign
to Ban Landmines) They initiate and support worldwide efforts to abolish nuclear
weapons, ban landmines, strengthen international law and to inspire and empower a
new generation of peace leaders.
6) Environmental NGOs (e.g. Greenpeace, WWF) They campaign and take measures
to prevent environmental degradation and build a planet in which humans live in
harmony with nature.
Given below is a list of acronyms that easily helps to differentiate types of NGOs. Some
of them are:
 INGO stands for International NGO
 ENGO stands for Environmental NGO
 RINGO is short for Religious International NGO such as Catholic Relief Services
 GONGO is Government-operated NGO which may have been set up by governments
to look like NGOs in order to be able to receive outside aid.
Role of NGO’s in Peace Process 107

10.2.2 The Importance of NGOs

When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, its principal
architect Eleanor Roosevelt predicted that “a curious grapevine” would carry the message
of the UDHR and its violations beyond barbed wires and through stone walls. The
“curious grapevine” she spoke of seems to be none other than NGOs, as they are the
ones who continue to create a global awareness- be it human rights issues, environmental,
nuclear arms stockpiling, etc. NGOs are gaining more and more importance and exerting
a greater influence in the world. NGOs are an alternative to governments for specific
issues. In their hearts every one wants peace, but discussions between nations and states
tend to give priority to strategy and considerations of gain and loss rather than the basic
anti-war sentiments shared by people at the grass-roots level everywhere. Due to their
non-political nature, NGOs more accurately reflect the concerns of the ordinary people
and also have greater freedom and courage to take a moral and global stand on issues.
Unrestrained by the narrow self-interests of governments, NGOs can awaken the
conscience of the global community on serious problems that transcend territorial boundaries
and compel governments to take more humane actions.
Since NGOs are mostly grassroots activists, they tend to have more familiarity with the
local conflict environment, closer contacts with the people and therefore have been
ascribed with the ability to play a preventive role too. They do this by a system of
gathering information and giving ‘early warning’ to governments. Another major peace-
building role played by them is through capacity building - conducting training of local
leaders, as this helps in strengthening civil society and the social system. Expanding their
grassroots networks, these organisations contribute greatly to peace and arms reduction
and to solving a wide range of global problems like human rights issue, development,
environment, food security, population, even distributing aid in battle zones.

10.2.3 Methods and Strategies used by NGOs

As seen above, the NGOs have different goals and hence vary in their methods of
operation and strategies. However three indispensable steps they have to go through after
identifying their goals are information gathering or fact-finding, evaluation and dissemination.
With the emergence of the internet and the Web, NGOs are able to quickly disseminate
or publish their information and coordinate efforts. Then depending on the nature of the
NGO, it resorts to advocacy, early warning, lobbying or shaming national and
intergovernmental agencies, engaging in humanitarian relief, legal aid, and other forms of
direct assistance. In the case of human rights NGOs, the first crucial step for them is
standard-setting, that is establishing international norms which are set forth in legally
binding treaties which have been negotiated and ratified by governments, thus making it
mandatory for the offending state to follow. The next major step is to research and
provide information about the human rights abuses. Next comes lobbying officials and
media and then providing assistance to the victims.

10.3 SOME PROMINENT NGOs

Let us take a look at the commendable peace building work being done by some well
known NGOs in each of the categories mentioned earlier.
1) Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - Humanitarian
NGO
108 Civil Society, Political Regimes and Conflict

This is an international medical humanitarian organisation created by doctors and journalists

in France in 1971. It operates independently of any political, military or religious agenda.
One of the reasons that it is able to work independently is because 89% of its funding
is from private sources and not governments. Today it provides aid in nearly 60 countries,
to people caught in a crisis occurring due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition,
exclusion from health care or natural disasters. For its commendable work MSF received
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
Medical teams first conduct evaluations on the ground to determine the medical needs of
the affected population. At times MSF speaks out publicly in an effort to bring attention
to neglected crises, alert the public to abuses, to challenge inadequacies of the aid system,
or to challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests.
MSF concentrates mostly on crises arising due to armed conflict and other ongoing and
less visible crises like exclusion from health care. In fact fifty percent of their programmes
are for helping victims of armed conflicts. They provide medical care to people caught in
war zones and who may have been injured by gunshot, knife, bombings or sexual
violence. They also provide medical care to refugees; treat malnutrition, infectious diseases
and temporary shelters. In epidemics they have been known to respond quickly to contain
the spread of cholera, measles, meningitis, etc. Malnutrition is a key factor in the deaths
of five million children every year. In 2006, MSF treated 1,50,000 severely malnourished
children, primarily with ready-to-use food or RUF which is a milk and peanut based
paste containing all the essential vitamins and minerals required by growing young children.
Responding to of natural disasters represents just five percent of MSF”s work, since local
agencies are able to quickly organise support from governments and international agencies.
In the recent disaster in Haiti on January 12, 2010, within the first few days they had
treated over 6000 injured people and performed 1000 major surgeries including
amputations. And about 10 days later they had also set up MSF’s inflatable hospital in
a school ground in Port-au-Prince. In their exclusion from health care programme, they
reach out to street children, migrants, displaced people, refugees, people with HIV/AIDS,
drug abusers, sex workers and provide them medical, social, and mental health care.
These are people who have been ostracised or have a stigma attached to them because
of certain reasons. They also persuade governments and civil society for improved access
to health services and better social acceptance for such people.
http://doctorswithoutborders.org/aboutus/
2) Human Rights Watch- Human Rights NGO
Human Rights Watch was initially formed in 1978 as Helsinki Watch by Robert Bernstein,
to monitor the compliance of Soviet bloc countries with the human rights provisions of the
Helsinki Accords. Initially its scope was limited to creating awareness in human rights
violations in the Soviet and communist East Europe countries. Today it is a global
organisation which tracks developments in more than 80 countries and has programmes
on women’s rights, children’s rights, terrorism and counterterrorism, the use of abusive
weapons in warfare, HIV/AIDS, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people, the human rights responsibilities of corporations, international justice, and refugees.
Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organisation, supported by
contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government
funds, directly or indirectly. They achieve their goals mainly through fact-reporting. They
investigate allegations of human rights violations, document the abuses and publish them
Role of NGO’s in Peace Process 109

and make the state or other entity responsible for the violation to be accountable. They
stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to
protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. They
investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. They
challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect
international human rights law. They enlist the public and the international community to
support the cause of human rights for all. It is also a leading member of the International
Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Over the past 30 years, Human Rights Watch has helped to advance respect for human
rights by:
 leading an international coalition to press for the adoption of a treaty banning the use
of child soldiers;
 documenting abuses by the United States in the “war on terror,” including the CIA’s
secret detention, interrogation and rendition programme, the torture of detainees held
in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo, and unfair trials at Guantanamo;
 working to achieve a comprehensive treaty banning antipersonnel land mines;
 documenting violations of the laws of war in numerous conflicts, including Afghanistan,
Bosnia, Chechnya, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Georgia,
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, and Sudan;
 working with international war crimes tribunals and providing evidence of abuses
leading to convictions of officials from the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda;
 helping focus attention on abuses in China ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games;
 Documenting the killing and maiming of civilians by cluster munitions in Kosovo,
Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Georgia, and helping to bring about the international
treaty ban.
In recognition of the vital role played by them in trying to end abuses, they were
bestowed the UN Prize for Human Rights in December 2008.
(Website: www.hrw.org )
3) International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) - Capacity Building NGO
The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict is an independent, nonprofit educational
foundation that develops and encourages the study and use of civilian-based, nonmilitary
strategies to citizens, conduct workshops for activists, NGOs, media professionals and
policy makers. They also develop learning material for schools and universities. Their goal
is to disseminate knowledge related to nonviolent conflict and its practice throughout the
world. The purpose of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) is to
develop and disseminate knowledge related to nonviolent conflict and its practice,
throughout the world.
What is nonviolent conflict? When civilians use non violent tactics such as strikes and
boycotts to fight for their rights or to defeat their opponent it is called a nonviolent
conflict. Protests such as petitions, parades, walkouts and mass demonstrations mobilise
and intensify the people’s participation. Acts of non cooperation such as resignations,
refusal to pay fess and taxes, and civil disobedience help subvert the operations of
110 Civil Society, Political Regimes and Conflict

governments. And direct intervention such as sit-ins, targeted acts of economic sabotage
and blockades can diminish an arbitrary ruler’s ability to frighten and subjugate his people.
These are the weapons of nonviolent conflict. There are several significant nonviolent
conflicts taking place in the world today. Aung San Suu Kyi is leading a nonviolent
movement against the military dictatorship in Myanmar. (Source www.nonviolent-
conflict.org/)
4) Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue- Conflict Resolution and Monitoring NGO
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre) is a neutral and impartial organisation
founded in August 1999, and is today one of the world’s most influential conflict
mediation organisations. Its aim is to help alleviate the suffering of individuals and
populations caught up in armed conflicts, by acting as mediators and by providing other
mediators with the support they need to work effectively. They firmly believe in the power
of dialogue to achieve political settlements and where formal diplomacy fails they are
confident that as a private and neutral organisation they can step in and help mediate.
They undertake action to prevent and resolve armed conflicts in the following ways:
 facilitating discussions, including acting as a mediator where appropriate
 ensuring that the parties are able to participate effectively in negotiations
 mobilising humanitarian, diplomatic and/or political responses
 contributing policy input on relevant substantive issues
 providing other specifically adapted services, such as financing mechanisms and other
logistical support, where the assistance of a private foundation is required.
Before committing itself to any involvement in a mediation process, the HD Centre
monitors conflicts and then makes a formal assessment and evaluation. The HD Centre
is actively involved in several conflict situations around the world. Wherever it mediates
between warring parties, its goal is to help reach agreements that reduce the consequences
of the conflict, improve security, and ultimately contribute to the peaceful conflict resolution.
(Source: www.hdcentre.org/)
5) International Campaign to Ban Landmines - Disarmament NGO
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is a global network in over 70
countries that works for a world free of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions. It
started out in 1992 with a coalition of just 6 NGOs like Human Rights Watch, VVAF,
Physicians for Human Rights, and others. Its chief strategist Ms.Jody Williams, a former
anti-Vietnam War activist, was approached and hired by Bobby Muller, President of
VVAF to coordinate the ICBL. Jody Williams wrote and spoke extensively about the
horrors of landmines and how soldiers, innocent civilians- women and children had been
maimed for life because of it.
What are landmines? These are weapons placed under or on the ground, which explode
under contact or presence of a person. These were initially used to defend borders,
camps, bridges and thwart enemy from encroaching territories. But over time they began
being deployed on a wider scale and started being aimed at civilians. They were used to
terrorise communities, deny access to farming land, create fear and restrict people’s
movement. On explosion they either kill or severely maim the person. In fact they are
specially designed to maim rather than kill the enemy, the logic being that it would cost
Role of NGO’s in Peace Process 111

more to care for an injured person than a dead soldier. But these landmines do not
discriminate- in the sense they harm not just soldiers, but innocent civilians, grazing cattle,
etc long after the war is over too. Also since they are least expensive to make, costing
$1, they have been used extensively. However the cost to find and destroy it is almost
$1000.
Armed with the thorough fact-finding and systematic documentation of the impact of
antipersonnel landmines done by Human Rights Watch, Jody Williams approached
governments and militaries and lobbied for an international ban on the use of, production,
stockpiling, sale, transfer of antipersonnel mines. She also sought for increased resources
for demining landmines, medical assistance and rehabilitation for victims. She gradually
convinced more than 1000 NGOs from over sixty countries to support the campaign.
Late Princess Diana also became a very vocal anti-landmine activist and this gave a lot
of support and visibility to the ICBL. Finally in December 1997, 125 governments
gathered in Ottawa to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. The treaty requires that countries should:
1. Ban the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines;
2. Destroy existing stockpiles within four years of signing of the convention coming into
force;
3. Clear minefields within ten years unless they can justify an extension;
4. Co-operate with a compliance regime
In a remarkably short period of six years, the ICBL had achieved so much. In recognition
for their efforts, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Ms.Jody Williams and the
ICBL in 1997. (www.icbl.org/)
6) Greenpeace- Environmental NGO
Greenpeace is an international organisation with a presence in 40 countries and has been
engaged in campaigns against environmental degradation since 1971. Listed below are
some of the ways by which Greenpeace strives to protect and conserve the environment
and to promote peace. Cited against them are also examples of their recent victories.
1. Defending the oceans by challenging wasteful and destructive fishing.
Eg. It was Greenpeace that revealed the shocking fact that every four seconds, marine
life in an area of ocean floor the size of ten football fields is wiped out by high seas
bottom trawlers. During deep-sea fishing, these trawlers drag their nets along the seabed,
destroying corals and other fragile marine life that have developed thousands of years ago.
After four years of campaigning by Greenpeace and other activists, an international
agreement was made in 2007 to protect 25% of the sea from this type of destructive
fishing method.
2. Protecting the world’s ancient forests and the animals, plants and people that depend
on them.
E.g. Destruction and degradation of forests drives climate change in two ways. First, the
clearing and burning of forests releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and second,
the area of forest that absorbs carbon dioxide is reduced. Forest protection is one of the
fastest ways to save the climate. In November 2009, around 50 Greenpeace activists shut
down deforestation operations in the Indonesian rainforest.
112 Civil Society, Political Regimes and Conflict

3. Working for disarmament and peace by tackling the causes of conflict and calling for
the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
Their very first campaign in 1971 was to “bear witness” to the US underground nuclear
testing at Amchitka near Alaska. Though these groups of activists were arrested, the
media coverage they received put pressure on the US government and four months later,
the US cancelled further nuclear tests. Since then they have campaigned against nuclear
weapons and nuclear power by bearing witness in test zones, supplying scientific data and
measurements on human and environmental impacts and by conducting direct non-violent
actions to call attention to the problem.
4. Creating a toxic free future with safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals in today’s
products and manufacturing.
E.g. Since 2005 Greenpeace has been encouraging technology companies to manufacture
greener electronics which are free from both hazardous PVC and BFRs. In October
2009 Apple was the first PC maker to completely eliminate hazardous plastic in its new
iMac and Macbook. And in February 2010, Wipro announced the launch of a new
computer called ‘Greenware’ which is PVC and BFR-free computer. PVC is one of the
most damaging plastics as when burned it produces dioxin which is carcinogenic.
5. Campaigning for sustainable agriculture by rejecting engineered organisms, protecting
biodiversity and encouraging socially responsible farming.
E.g. When India approved Monsanto’s Bt brinjal to be grown in India, Greenpeace put
in a lot of pressure and created an awareness and outrage amongst scientists, farmers,
consumers and civil society. As a result, in February 2010, the Indian government took
a decision to impose a moratorium on Bt brinjal and to protect Indian agriculture. Genetic
engineering (GE) crops are a threat to food security as they have repeatedly failed under
extreme weather conditions, and some GE plants yield consistently less than their natural
counterparts.
(Source - http://www.greenpeace.org/international/)

10.4 TAKING UP A CAUSE

The first step taken by an NGO is to identify and take up a cause. Let us look at the
founding reason for the World Centers of Compassion for Children International (WCCCI)
by Mrs. Betty Williams of Ireland. This is an NGO which was formed due to the courage
and compassion of a single individual, a woman. For centuries Northern Ireland had been
experiencing bitter religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants resulting in political
strife. One day on August 1976 while Mrs. Williams was driving through Belfast with her
daughter in the back seat, a getaway car bearing an IRA gunman was shot by a British
soldier. Gun fire ensued and Irish republican’s car careened out of control smashing into
an iron fence and killing three innocent young children and critically injuring their mother
who happened to have been walking down that road. Mrs. Williams was so angered by
this senseless killing that she decided to make a personal effort to bring an end to this
tragedy afflicting Ireland and the suffering and pain of Irish mothers. She started a house-
to-house petition drive for peace, knocking on the doors of families on both sides of the
conflict. Within 2 days she had collected 6000 signatures for her petition. She also led
a peace march of ten thousand Protestant and Catholic women to visit the graves of the
three children who had died amidst assaults by members of the Irish Republican army.
Role of NGO’s in Peace Process 113

The movement spread widely among the women of Northern Ireland and an organisation
called the Community of Peace People was formed with a goal to end sectarian fighting
in Northern Ireland and to provide aid to victims of violence. This grassroots activity
attracted worldwide sympathy and recognition, and in 1976 Mrs. Williams, together with
Mairead Corrigan (the aunt of the 3 children who had died), was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize for their grassroots work that spawned the Northern Ireland Peace Movement.
Since then she has persisted in taking action for the welfare of women and children
around the globe through her World Centers of Compassion for Children (WCCC). The
organisation is dedicated to creating safe and nurturing environments for children in areas
afflicted by war and poverty.

10.5 SUMMARY
Increasingly, states and intergovernmental organisations are delegating the responsibility of
peacemaking and peace-building to NGOs working in humanitarian, developmental,
educational and conflict resolution activities. Through citing some prominent NGOs and
their achievements, we can see the new approaches they have used to end conflicts
especially because of their neutral, unbiased approach. The fact that a lot of them receive
funds from individuals and not governments helps them to work independently and
unrestrictedly. Moreover through the advancement of information technology NGOs large
and small have been able to network through internet quickly and effectively and impact
globally.
In his book ‘Choose Peace’, Dr.Daisaku Ikeda says that we must realise the importance
of ‘soft power’, that is, all kinds of exchanges and contacts on non-governmental levels.
He adds that for the sake of global symbiosis, exchanges among ordinary people are far
more effective than contacts between governments. For instance environmental issues
came to the forefront as a result of the work of people’s organisations. Very little would
have been done in the ecological field had not organisations such as Greenpeace
mobilised public opinion. Governments and corporations have only acted because civil
society has shamed them into it.
It was NGOs that laid the groundwork for the dismantling of the Soviet empire, brought
about a political transformation in Poland, brought an end to the apartheid system in
South Africa, established the principle of accountability for crimes against humanity and
derailed the 1999 Seattle WTO meeting – to name a few. Such stunning achievements
have made governments worldwide sit up and take NGO’s so seriously that today they
involve NGOs in their deliberations and decision-making. They are involved in policymaking
by organisations like United Nations, World Bank, WTO, IMF, etc. International relations
and peace talks are no more the exclusive domain of diplomats and bureaucrats; the
NGOs too now play a vital role towards this end.

10.6 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. Who is an NGO? Define the different classification of NGOs.
2. Give details of an NGO doing work in the area of environment or nuclear
disarmament.
3. Describe the steps and strategies used by human rights NGOs to achieve their
purpose.
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SUGGESTED READINGS
Korey, William., NGOs and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “A Curious
Grapevine”, Palgrave, New York, 1998.
David, Krieger, and Ikeda, Daisaku., Choose Hope, Middleway Press, Santa Monica,
2001.