13. Human Rights Diplomacy: The NGO Role

Abstract

There is a strong current among human rights activists that revels in being seen as outsiders, battling against corrupt and abusive governments. If human rights diplomacy is defined, however, as advocacy directed at governments and inter-governmental organisations to affect policy changes relating to human rights, it is a core function of non-governmental advocacy organizations. Within the theatre of human rights diplomacy, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) take on many different roles. At times, the activities undertaken by NGOs are similar to those undertaken by governmental actors, but they also perform a number of functions that distinguish their work from governments. The chapter highlights six different types of engagement by NGOs in human rights diplomacy: (1) catalysts; (2) advocates; (3) shapers of the debate; (4) partners in policy-making; (5) monitors; and (6) legitimisers and beneficiaries. Keywords: advocates; governments; human rights activists; human rights diplomacy; non-governmental organisations (NGOs); policy changes; policy-making; role