NGO Activities Research Articles

Menimbang Prospek Komunikasi Individual HAM: Politik Hukum dan Implikasi Potensial Bagi Indonesia

The individual communications procedure is a vital mechanism in international human rights law that enables victims to seek remedies when domestic legal venues have been exhausted or failed to deliver justice. Although Indonesia has acceded to almost all core international human rights treaties, its individual communications procedures have yet to be accepted. This study investigates the Indonesian Government’s human rights legal policy toward individual communications procedures acceptance through the ratification/accession of the ICCPR First Optional Protocol and ICESCR Optional Protocol, as well as analyzes the potential implications of such acceptance. This study utilizes a normative legal methodology coupled with interdisciplinary and conceptual approaches. In addition to analyzing legal materials, interviews were conducted with scholars, NGO activist, victim, and former Commissioner of Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission to deepen the analysis. The findings reveal the Government’s lack of political will to accept individual communications procedures due to a tendency to avoid adjudicatory human rights accountability mechanisms and the avoidance of possible compliance costs, such as financial, reputational, and political burdens. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that these procedures’ acceptance has potential implications for opening access to justice for victims, providing strategic litigation channels, and facilitating interaction between treaty bodies and the national judiciary regarding the development of interpretations of human rights through judicial dialogue. The Government should consider ratifying/acceding the ICCPR and ICESCR Optional Protocols to strengthen the domestic human rights protection infrastructure and enhance its reputation as a promoter of human rights.

Navigating the Pandemic Through Technology: Colombian NGOs Promoting Peace During the COVID-19 Era

This article examines how Colombian NGOs use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for peacebuilding attempts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from 17 interviews with NGO members, the study underscores the pivotal role of digital peacebuilding in sustaining and expanding peace attempts, effective data management, and a broader engagement of target groups beyond in-person activities often associated with safety and financial concerns. The findings also identify prevailing challenges of incorporating ICTs in NGO's peacebuilding activities, ranging from privacy-related concerns to connectivity issues. The article points out the potential for NGOs to enhance interactivity, knowledge transfer, and diversity in their activities with ICTs, including IT security training and awareness campaigns on hate speech and propaganda. It also emphasizes the importance of developing risk reduction strategies tailored to the specific needs of different target groups.

Effect of NGO Activities on Living Conditions of Informal Settlements in Kisumu City: An Empirical Literature Review Approach

Living conditions refer to circumstances regarding how people live. How people live is quite broad; it implies the quality of food people eat, the type and quality of houses people live in, the clothes people put on, access to health care, and access to quality education and sanitation. Living conditions define the overall well-being of a human being and, at times, are related to self-esteem and dignity. Besides, quality of living may dictate life expectancy and affect the nation's overall productivity. Living conditions have been a worldwide concern to non-governmental organizations, various local governments, and stakeholders. The study, therefore, investigated the effect of NGO activities on living conditions in informal settlements in Kisumu City. The study used a literature review method; the inclusion criteria were that the study only reviewed literature done in Kisumu related to living conditions, NGOs, and informal settlements in Kisumu. The key search words were living conditions, NGO activities, and informal settlements in Kisumu County, and the study used Google Scholar as the database source of the articles reviewed. Results of the study revealed that despite NGO activities in informal settlements in Kisumu City, the effects of such activities on living conditions are dismal and not quantified. The study recommends a joint effort by stakeholders such as the County Government, the Central Government, the private sector, local development finance institutions, international development finance institutions, and individual philanthropists to help salvage the poor living conditions in informal settlements in Kisumu City. This study is essential to the citizens living in informal settlements, central and County Governments, NGOs, private sector firms, and all the stakeholders.

Slow resistance: Feminist and queer activism in ‘illiberal’ contexts

In recent years in China, NGO activism, street gatherings, and the direct expression of gender and sexual rights have been curtailed, yet paradoxically, online feminist expression and organizing, as well as gay visibility, are happening on an unprecedented scale. Inspired by the notions of slow violence and slow hope, this article proposes the concept of slow resistance in relation to ‘illiberalism’ to think through this paradox. Analyzing recent rich and multifaceted, yet often overlooked, feminist activism in China as an example of slow resistance, the article considers slow resistance in ‘illiberal’ contexts as characterized by its context-dependent (in)visibility due to censorship and limitations in global knowledge production and information circulation. Furthermore, slow resistance can be used to understand activism on a global and transnational scale, beyond the oversimplified liberal/illiberal binary. This binary often fails to capture the complexity of political shifts and social changes within ‘illiberal’ contexts. Moreover, the concept of slow resistance challenges the understanding of power solely as state power and resistance solely as opposition to state power. Developing the concept within feminist activism also highlights the importance of gender and sexual politics in understanding social and political change. Slow resistance offers an indeterminate temporality of resistance that challenges narratives of progress in modernization projects and narratives of decline and despair often associated with ‘illiberal states.’ It is important to note that an excessive emphasis on state oppression or illiberal tendencies may paradoxically hinder, rather than facilitate, the potential for (slow) resistance in such contexts.

Becoming Scientific-Environmental Citizens Through Citizen Science in China

This article advocates for a closer study of the forms of citizenship nurtured among individual participants in citizen science (CS) projects by highlighting some salient features of CS in China. Through a detailed examination of the experiences of students participating in the CS activities of a Chinese environmental NGO, it proposes that attention to CS as a means of democratizing science should be complemented by a similar attention to the ways in which CS fosters “scientific-environmental citizenship.” The article argues that these emergent forms of citizenship may be revealed by focusing on the experiences, perspectives, values and skills acquired by participants, and the specific polity in which CS initiatives are situated. This attention to the development of scientific-environmental citizenship as an outcome of CS is particularly valuable in contexts where democratic participation is otherwise constrained, but also yields a more nuanced understanding of citizenship enacted through CS in democratic contexts.

‘Mostly women's issues’ – Gender differences in community responses to a large-scale NGO programme to prevent violence against women in urban India

Despite striking gender differences in men's and women's engagement in past prevention programmes to stop violence against women (VAW), few empirical studies have determined why such gender differences arise. We did a grounded theory study of a large-scale NGO programme in informal settlements in Mumbai, India, aiming to analyse how gender affects participation in community action to address VAW. We did 27 focus group discussions and 31 semi-structured interviews with 77 women and 36 men, as well as with 9 NGO staff. We supplemented qualitative data with quantitative monitoring data on referrals to NGO counselling centres. We found that male participants in the NGO programme not only reported violence to the NGO at lower rates but took less intensive action to support survivors. When they did engage, they more often defended perpetrators or asked survivors to accommodate them than female participants. These differences could be explained by a greater (1) affective response to VAW (2) perceived stake in addressing VAW (3) sense of empowerment from taking action, and (4) perceived NGO support for self among women compared to men. Differences were evident even between male and female participants who had taken part in NGO activities for years. We theorise that these differences ultimately stem from men and women's structurally different position in a gender unequal society. Our findings identify key motivational barriers to address to improve the effectiveness of programmes to prevent VAW. Given the greater barriers to men's community action compared to women's community action, it may be useful to recognize the value of prevention programmes with differing levels of male engagement, including women-only programmes and programmes in which male community participants play a secondary role and are not expected to be as active as female participants.

Public participation and NGO activity in nature-based solutions in urban areas of China

This paper analyses the degree and types of public participation in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) projects in China. The paper is based upon the premise that NBS affect multiple aspects of the city as a place for the daily lives and activities of citizens and that NBS implementation can benefit from citizen and stakeholder involvement. NBS thus offer a platform for stimulating engagement between the local government and the public. Case studies are examined through a literature review, site visits, and interviews with researchers, local officials and NGOs in China. The paper indicates that there has been significant progress since the 1990s in formal requirements of public participation through Chinese legislation promoting the inclusiveness of the public in environmental and NBS decision-making, and acknowledgment of the importance of NGOs, however actual implementation of soliciting public opinion and involvement in NBS project design has been more limited. The case studies suggest that the level of involvement of the public in NBS activities and decision-making is the reciprocal of the size of the project, where there is a high-level of involvement in the smaller local projects, but minimal involvement in larger-scale NBS projects. We find that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have a significant potential to help finance NBS projects providing the project can forecast low risk and positive revenue for investors, therefore this model would merit further exploration. However, PPPs may also involve limited public participation by citizens and stakeholders beyond private companies and may therefore require targeted efforts to address local communities’ needs and interests. Local people are the most important (and willing) actors and opinionators in projects that directly affect their lives, livelihoods and well-being. The findings highlight the important role of NGOs in promoting and facilitating public participation, and accompanying co-benefits, in several of the Chinese case studies. Our study also suggests that symbiosis between local governments and the citizens could be invoked by local community-based organisations (e.g. Community Resident Committees or similar) that can act as a liaison point and catalyst to public participation in NBS projects, although significant training would also be required.

Over 30 years of monitoring and implementing the Bern Convention's recommendations for the protection of Mediterranean sea turtles

The Bern Convention was the first international treaty dedicated to the conservation of European wildlife and habitats. Their task is to review member states’ efforts depending on their commitments for flora and fauna protection. Since 1993, the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET) has been advocating for the creation and enforcement of legislation at the national, European Union, and regional levels. MEDASSET monitors the implementation of the Convention’s recommendations in two major sea turtle nesting areas in Greece (Laganas and Kyparissia Bays) and four in Turkey (Anamur, Kazanli, Fethiye, and Patara). In Greece, the most important pressures are uncontrolled tourist boat activity, illegal construction, and beach furniture management issues reported in Laganas Bay, and light pollution, illegal construction, and unhindered vehicle access in Kyparissia. In Turkey, Anamur is negatively impacted by the lack of law enforcement, illegal sand extraction, and coastal development, and Kazanli has been subjected to the release of toxic waste from a Soda Chrome Factory since 2000. Moreover, Fethiye and Patara are affected by the lack of management and protection, and the rapid construction and touristic development. Nevertheless, some positive steps have been made due to MEDASSET and other NGO activities over the past 30 years, such as the establishment of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, and the issuing of the Bern Convention’s recommendations for each one of the aforementioned nesting sites.

Threads of Influence: Exploring the Nexus of History, Religion, and Culture in Shaping Chinese Women's Political Engagement in Peninsula Malaysia

The multi-ethnic factor has influenced gender-based political parties and culture. Thus, we shed light on how political socialization through indicators of religion, history, and culture influences Chinese women's behavior and political involvement in Peninsular Malaysia. The political participation of Chinese women in Malaysia remains low, as evidenced by the representation of Chinese women in decision-making sectors such as the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and Parliament. We adopt a qualitative approach through intensive interview techniques with ten purposively selected participants. The primary informants interviewed include female Chinese political representatives, male politicians, academics, and NGO activists. Ultimately, we illustrate how political socialization through cultural, religious, and historical agents influences the political involvement of Chinese women in Peninsular Malaysia. The political culture of Chinese women is not static and has evolved based on contemporary changes before and after independence. The political culture of Chinese women has shifted from referencing Mainland China to survival in Malaya.

Women’s Empowerment Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations in Turkiye: Refugee and Local Women’s Triple Role

Objective: Development is an essential concept of social and economic progress. In Turkiye, non-governmental organisations contribute to development and empowerment through their activities. The aim of this research is to respond to “What are the alterations caused by NGOs empowerment activities in the field of development of refugee and local women’s triple role in society after the 2011 Syrian crisis?” Method: This research article employed qualitative methodology with semi-structured face-to-face and online interviews. The interviewer was selected from 10 NGOs officers between the ages of 24-35 who graduated from social sciences and humanities and had at least 2 years’ experience working in the social cohesion, livelihoods, and protection units of NGOs. Results: The findings reveal that NGOs empowerment activities that considered "class and gender," "community participation," and "social cohesion, as concepts have effects on refugee and local women’s triple role in society after the 2011 Syrian Crisis. Conclusion: Development policies and NGOs activities have an important role in the civil society. It enhances women status in the society. Additionally, NGOs’ activities that focused on women's empowerment and women's strategic life choices (resources, agency, and success), have positive impacts women’s triple roles.

Determinants of Intention to Use HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Condom Use Among a Sample of Cisgender Female Sex Workers Working Mostly Outdoors in Madrid, Spain

There is scant knowledge regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among female sex workers (FSWs) in Europe. Spain recognized FSWs as a population at high risk of acquiring HIV and granted them subsidized access to PrEP when the medication first became nationally available in 2019. Nevertheless, FSWs represented just 0.2% of PrEP users in 2022. A total of 102 HIV-negative FSWs reached through field activities of local NGOs located in Madrid were interviewed between January and March 2022. Participants were selected through convenience sampling over a fixed recruitment period. FSWs completed a 73-item survey with questions about individual, occupational, social, and structural determinants. The objective of this study was to identify (1) the prevalence of intention to use oral PrEP and its determinants, and (2) the prevalence of inconsistent condom use, which is the risk factor that qualifies FSWs for subsidized PrEP in the national health system, and its determinants. Importantly, the study sample overrepresented street-based FSWs (71.6%). A quarter (25.5%) of the study participants used condoms inconsistently. PrEP awareness was low (9.8%), but intention to use PrEP was high (72.5%). Intention to use oral PrEP was significantly associated with feeling protected against HIV by taking PrEP and perceiving insufficient protection by condom use alone. Inconsistent condom use was significantly associated with frequent heroin/cocaine use, having clients who inject drugs, and willingness to take PrEP despite it not protecting 100% against HIV infection. FSWs, in this specific sample, are likely to benefit from targeted PrEP awareness campaigns and implementation projects that prioritize those who use drugs and are more likely to engage in condomless sex.

Impact of Yankari Game Reserve to Rural Development and Biodiversity Conservation in Yankari Communities Bauchi State

This paper assesses the development and benefits derived by rural communities in the study area surrounding a game reserve. Questionnaires were administered to residents of fourteen selected communities within the game reserve and to the staff of the park. Additionally, focus group discussions were conducted with ten residents from each of the fourteen rural communities. A total of 720 questionnaires were distributed to residents to evaluate the development and benefits received from the establishment of the game reserve, while 250 questionnaires were distributed to the park staff to determine the impact of NGO activities on the communities. Interviews were also conducted with key stakeholders, including ward-heads, village-heads, youths, and women leaders. The findings reveal that the primary developments and benefits received by the game reserve rural communities include the establishment of primary schools, clinics, health centers, construction of roads and culverts, drilling of boreholes and wells, and access to loans for income generation. However, the relationship between farmers and pastoralists is strained, particularly during the dry season when livestock damage crops due to scarce forage. It is recommended that the working relationships between the communities and the game reserve be improved to achieve the overall objectives of conservation programs in Nigeria.

The construction of the normative persuasion of social and environmental reporting regulation

PurposeThis study aims to understand why some social and environmental reporting (SER) regulations are more successful than others in modifying collective corporate reporting behaviour and expectations. More specifically, it presents a qualitative and historically informed exploration of the construction of the enabling conditions for corporate adoption of SER regulation in a national context.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on insights from structuration theory and the sociological approach to legal studies, the authors examined the normative persuasion of the first regulation in Spain requiring firms to disclose social and environmental information in a stand-alone report: Article 39 of the Spanish Sustainable Economy Law. The case study is based primarily on 38 semi-structured interviews with relevant actors involved in this SER regulation from 2008 to 2014. Other sources such as legal and policy documents, historical documents, books, press reports and field notes from attendance at technical meetings related to the phenomenon under study help inform and complement the analysis of the interviews.FindingsThe analysis reveals that the agency of regulators, regulatees and other relevant actors involved in the SER regulation led to the law becoming a dead letter. However, only by examining the structural circumstances, shaped by history and socio-economic context, can the authors understand how the normative persuasion of law is constructed or undermined.Research limitations/implicationsThe study underscores the importance of the national context in developing corporate social responsibility (CSR) regulation and the crucial role of history. The results of this research also suggest that significant progress towards a more transformative CSR regulation cannot be achieved without the support of enabling structures/Practical implicationsRecent SER regulations (European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and IFRS sustainability standards, to mention those that are gaining most traction) may not achieve sufficient compliance if those responsible for drafting them do not ensure that the conditions for the emergence of regulatory persuasion are met. Regulators must therefore have a profound understanding of how these conditions are constructed as part of a historical process inextricably linked to the social structures of the environment in which the law is to be applied.Social implicationsThe study reveals the changing landscape of corporate social responsibility, where scientists, academics, NGO activists and civil society organisations struggle to gain some agency in a field populated by actors, such as trade unions or employers, who were constitutive of Western industrial liberal democracies.Originality/valueThis study presents an in-depth and historically grounded analysis of the dynamics involved in creating the conditions that lead to successful SER legislation in a national context.

Contribution of Non Governmental Organisations Projects Intervention on Social Economic Growth in Rural Areas. A Case of World Vision Rwanda 2019-2022 Kivuruga Sector, Gakenke Disrtict, Northern Rwanda.

This research is basically done to assess contribution of Non-Governmental Organizations projects intervention on socio economic growth of in rural areas a case study of World Vision Rwanda project in Kivuruga sector. This study had the following specific objectives: to find out the contribution of NGOs on socio economic growth in Kivuruga sector, to elaborate socio economic impacts of NGOs in rural areas especially in Kivuruga sector, to identify the relationship between activities of WVR and socioeconomic growth of its beneficiaries in Kivuruga sector and to give suggestions and recommendation on NGOs activities in rural areas. Due to financial means, time constraints and the need of precision of results, it was impossible to study all population. Target population of this study was 127 beneficiaries of World Vision Rwanda project in Kivuruga sector. A sample of 56 respondents was selected and cluster sampling was used for selecting groups, or clusters, of participants from the population. The clusters were chosen based on distribution of World Vision Rwanda project’s respondents in cells. The study also employed purposive sampling as the sampling technique. Questionnaire, interview and a documentation research were used as tools of data collection. The statistical analysis of the collected data was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). This study assessed the Contribution of WVR in socio-economic growth where the findings indicated that great extent and very great extent make 73.2%. Therefore, the WVR played a big role in economic growth of Rwanda especially in Kivuruga Sector. As conclusion, it has been revealed that the capacity of the beneficiaries to cover basic expenditure and need (such as food, clothing, transport, education and housing, etc.) has been improved over the program/project period. Likewise, the programs executed by WORLD VISION Rwanda have enabled beneficiaries to engage in small businesses, different income generating activities, developing markets through a systems approach and market linkage, promote and increase the saving practice. As a result, beneficiaries of the programs have their source of income and they become self-reliance and empowered. The recommendations to future action planners are to improve livelihood, socio-economic conditions and then to reduce poverty the participation of women.

Corporate–NGO collaboration and CSR disclosure – the moderating role of corporate profitability

Purpose This research investigates the influence of corporate–NGO collaborations on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure measured in three different ways (i.e. extent, level and quality) in low-income developing economies. Additionally, it examines the moderating effect of corporate profitability in the relationship between corporate–NGO collaborations and CSR disclosure.Design/methodology/approach This research uses multivariate regression analysis based on data collected from 201 non-financial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE).Findings The findings reveal that corporations with NGO partnerships are more likely to disclose CSR information and provide high-quality information regarding workers, the environment and community-related issues. Further, corporate profitability positively moderates the corporate–NGO collaborations and CSR disclosure relationship.Research limitations/implications Research limitations are presented in the conclusion section.Practical implications The findings underline the crucial significance of NGOs and their associated normative isomorphism logics for CSR disclosure in low-income countries with weak law enforcement and relatively ineffective state institutions, which were previously believed to lack such institutions.Originality/value While some research has suggested that companies in developing countries perceive significant pressure from NGOs to adopt social disclosure, no study has specifically explored how internally driven corporate–NGO collaboration (as opposed to external NGO activist pressures) promotes CSR disclosure specifically in developing economies.

IJCM_204A: A qualitative research to identify the barriers and facilitating factors in the utilization of healthcare services by a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Udupi District

Background: Udupi district hosts two major Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) namely Malaikudiya and Koraga. Koraga tribes are declining in number and deprived of availability of healthcare services and accessibility to healthcare facilities. There are a lot of barriers such as lack of awareness and social stigma amalgamate the existing conditions of Koraga tribes in Udupi district. Research studies pertaining to this problem has been seldom done. Objective: We aim to explore the barriers and facilitating factors in accessing healthcare services by a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Udupi district. Methodology: We conducted qualitative research through 8 in-depth interviews with AMOs from PHC and CHC, ITDP staff and NGO workers, and 3 focus group discussions with community health nurses, ASHA workers, and Koraga community leaders from Udupi district. We explored the major facilitators and barriers that influence the utilization of health care services by the PVTG. Results: On the beneficiaries’ point of view, lack of awareness, distance to health facilities, poor public transportation, perceived negative behavior of hospital staff, lack of infrastructure, unwelcoming neighbourhood approaches, and economic instability were the main barriers to utilizing healthcare facilities. On the stakeholders (providers) point of view, availability of healthcare facilities, government policies and schemes and NGO activities are the facilitating factors. Conclusion: Our study highlights the barriers to utilizing health facilities; these are not always driven by factors linked to the PVTG members’ socio- economic status but also depend significantly on the quality of the health services and other contextual factors. Although the government has made efforts to improve the rural healthcare system through national-level programs, our qualitative study shows that there are a number of barriers which lessens the effectiveness of the programs to enhance the utilization of healthcare facilities by the PVTG in the study area.

Accountability and the postcolonial identity of Palestinian human rights NGO activists

We incorporate conceptualisations around the accountable self into the NGO accountability literature to consider how NGO human rights activists make sense of their accountability in relation to their postcolonial identity. We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with Palestinian activists working in Palestinian and Israeli NGOs defending human rights in Gaza. Our findings provide four original insights. First, the construction of their identity as “postcolonial” considerably motivates our interviewees' work as human rights activists, but also creates conflicts with NGOs' humanitarian missions. Activists respond by stressing their postcolonial identity over their professional one. Second, due to Palestinian activists' own lived experiences, they construct accountability relations and collective identities defined by victimhood. The sense of victimhood results in blurring boundaries between activists and their “beneficiaries”, which influences their sense of accountability and motivates their practices. Third, the accountable self mobilises different accountability practices to deal with both the self's needs for narrativity and authenticity (e.g., through storytelling and remembrance) and external demands for “objective” accounts, thereby balancing their postcolonial and professional identities and responsibilities. Fourth, our interviewees sense that their accountability has limitations, as the accounts of human rights violations they produce receive insufficient recognition from others. Overall, the study indicates the importance of considering how a postcolonial identity of human rights activists creates various sources and motivations for the accountable self's relationships, practices and limitations distinguishable from, but linked, to those practised by NGOs.

Islamic Feminists’ Rejection of the Textual Understanding of Misogynistic Hadiths for the Advancement of Gender Justice in Makassar, Indonesia

Islam is a religion that upholds the values of justice and equal rights between men and women, but the understanding of the Indonesian Muslim community is still wrong with the teachings of Islam. One of the reasons includes misunderstanding of misogynistic hadiths, namely hadiths that editorially seem to demean women. This study aims to explore Islamic feminists’ rejection of the textual understanding of misogynistic hadiths to uphold gender justice. This Islamic feminist stance needs to receive support so that gender justice is in line with Islamic law. This research uses empirical qualitative methods by analyzing the theory of understanding hadith and gender theory. The study obtained data from interviews and a literature review. The respondents interviewed were academics, NGO activists, and community leaders, while the literature included journal articles, books, and Islamic textbooks on Islamic law. The study took place in Makassar City, Indonesia from September 2022 to March 2023. Findings reveal that Islamic feminists in Makassar City criticize the textual interpretations of misogynistic hadiths as they demean women’s dignity and are not in accordance with the values of Islamic teachings. If analyzed from a gender perspective, Islamic feminists have played an important role in fighting for gender equality in a religious context. Meanwhile, in the context of hadith understanding theory, a contextual approach is needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of society so that gender justice is realized. The contribution of this study is that the Islamic feminist perspective that reviews misogynistic hadith through a contextual approach helps provide inspiration and direction for other efforts to encourage social change and gender justice.

The role of non-governmental human rights organizations in ensuring the collection of evidence for the international criminal court in the context of the war in Ukraine

In Ukraine, starting from February 2022, every day servicemen of the Russian army commit crimes that are a direct violation of international humanitarian law, not only on the front line, but also in the depths of the country, in the central and western regions. The author of the article analyzes the procedure for pre-trial investigation of international criminal crimes and the role of non-governmental public human rights organizations in this process. In addition, the new functions assigned to NGOs as separate non-governmental human rights organizations that have been operating on the territory of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion were considered. The legal mechanisms for the involvement of NGOs in the collection of evidence on the ground, as well as the possibility of taking into account the collected information by international justice bodies, were studied. Specific examples and initiatives of the public sector, within the scope of the issue being studied, are given, and the functions, competences, and opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of NGO activity in the conditions of war are defined.
 It was concluded that non-governmental organizations, including human rights organizations, during the war in Ukraine discovered new areas of work and expanded the possibility of cooperation with state bodies. In turn, law enforcement agencies have provided access to limited information for the NGOs themselves by internal orders, which together increases the effectiveness of the pre-trial investigation of committed crimes. Thanks to this, feedback has been established. Special attention should be paid to the work of foreign NGOs and volunteers, which contributes to the recording of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which current Ukrainian refugees witnessed or became victims of.
 It was concluded that the main areas of evidence-gathering NGO activity are the following: 1) dissemination of information in the mass media about the condition of refugees who suffered as a result of the crimes of the Russian military, documenting the stories of witnesses of such offenses. In particular, the facts of torture and sexual violence (from the testimonies of refugees from Ukraine) were reported by the mass media in many European countries and beyond; 2) provision of advisory assistance regarding high-quality recording of episodes of criminal acts in order to recognize such evidence as appropriate; 3) peaceful gatherings and protests of public organizations, the active public against Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine, which, of course, is of great importance for the international community to recognize their severity and massiveness.
 It was concluded that the wide international recognition of the war crimes of the Russian Federation creates opportunities for the successful initiation of the International Tribunal or other judicial formats (such as the International Criminal Court, the Extraordinary Chamber) to bring the perpetrators to justice. All international actors collect evidence according to the clear requirements and standards of the International Criminal Court, and subsequently either transfer it to it or accumulate it in the prosecutor’s offices of certain countries for further referral to a designated responsible judicial body.

Гуманитарная деятельность международных неправительственных организаций по вопросу о сирийских беженцах и внутренне перемещенных лицах

The paper aims to study humanitarian activities of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) operating in Syria in terms of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, as well as internally displaced people (IDPs). Thus, firstly, the research reveals the phenomenon of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, which led various INGOs to participate in solving humanitarian problems. Secondly, the paper assesses humanitarian activities performed by several INGOs in Syria that are members of the Syrian International Regional Forum (SIRF). An integrated approach was used that included a qualitative and quantitative analysis of information officially provided by INGOs concerning their humanitarian activities. The analysis determined humanitarian relief on resolving refugees and IDPs crisis as being primarily related to ensuring food security and water supply, providing medical and psychological assistance, reconstructing civilian infrastructure. Moreover, the paper comes to the conclusion that activities of NGOs are represented by different programs and they have different intensity, therefore, the study identifies several NGOs with the most extensive activities in Syria. The author proves that in most cases these organizations tend to avoid politicization of their work. This article provides a summary of those practical steps taken by an NGO to resolve the issue of Syrian refugees and IDPs. This issue has been largely ignored in Russian literature and therefore may become a subject of close attention both from certain groups of Russian scientists and a number of public organizations.