CHAPTER 6: NGO
DIPLOMACY
NGO Diplomacy or Advocacy?
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NGOs gather information; evaluate and disseminate
information; set standards; advocate; and lobby.
When conceptualizing NGO human rights and
humanitarian diplomacy, it is difficult, if not impossible,
to distinguish between diplomacy and advocacy.
Another advocacy related aspect of NGO diplomacy
relates to norm creation, norm promotion, and agenda
setting by participating in transnational advocacy
networks.
NGOs as Subcontractors
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States and IGOs often turn to NGOs to help the carry
out public policy.
States and IGOs often rely on NGOs to deliver
emergency humanitarian assistance to vulnerable
populations experiencing war, violent conflict, or natural
disasters.
One difficulty is the securitization of aid, which means
that the security interests of donor states often
determine NGO relief activities.
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This can compromise the legitimacy and neutrality of NGOs
and affect their ability to negotiate humanitarian space.
NGOs as Vehicles for Citizen
Diplomacy
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The concept of citizen diplomacy came into vogue
during the Cold War and it meant that citizens have a
responsibility to be unofficial ambassadors for their
countries.
It has since evolved to mean how ordinary citizens can
shape policy.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is
illustrative of this concept.
 The Convention on the Prohibition and the Use,
Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and on their Destruction (also known as the Ottawa
Treaty or Mine Ban Treaty) began in 1996.
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Human Rights NGOs
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Relatively few (approximately 250) NGOs consider the
advancement human rights and humanitarian principles to
be their primary focus.
Amnesty International
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In its first few years, Amnesty International used letter-writing
campaigns to advocate for the release of prisoners of
conscience.
The organization is comprised of over three million members
worldwide and has regional hubs that carry out research and
advocacy activities.
Human Rights Watch
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Began in 1978 as Helsinki Watch, an organization whose mission
was to help citizen groups on the ground to monitor the Soviets
compliance to human rights.
NGO Human Rights Diplomacy:
Strategy and Tools
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The lobbying of governmental and intergovernmental
public officials can be both direct and indirect.
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NGOs often have an indirect effect on policy through their
expert testimony before legislative and executive bodies.
NGOs will turn to national courts in order to affect
policy especially when they lack the resources or the
contacts to properly lobby legislative and executive
officials.
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They do this by becoming party to a case, which, in the US
can be difficult because of the “standing” issue.
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Standing means that in order to bring a case in court, petitioners
have to show harm.
NGO Human Rights Diplomacy:
Strategy and Tools cont’d.
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Another strategy involves filing amicus curiae
(friend of the court) briefs.
Traditional methods of shaping public opinion
include letters-to-the-editor, opinion editorials, open
letters, and expert news commentary.
Humanitarian NGOs
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Humanitarian NGOs aim to reach populations that are
affected by conflict, disaster, and crisis whether through
coordinating efforts from headquarters or distributing
aid on the ground.
A large part of their work centers on raising money and
finding supplies to ensure that resources are available
when a crisis hits and access has been granted.
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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are two of the larger, more
respected humanitarian NGOs with global reach.
Humanitarian NGOs
cont’d.
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The International Committee of the Red Cross
The ICRC was established in 1863 to provide humanitarian
assistance to those who are affected by armed conflict and
to promote laws to protect those the “victims of war.”
 The ICRC is an independent and neutral organization based
in Geneva, Switzerland. Its mandate is derived from
Geneva Conventions of 1949 and it is principally involved
with assisting the victims of war (prisoners of war, the
wounded, and civilian and other noncombatants.)
 Today, the organization is comprised of 12,000 people in
80 countries.
 National societies and their International Federation form
the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
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Humanitarian NGOs
cont’d.
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Médecins Sans Frontières
 MSF
is a humanitarian NGO that delivers emergency
aid to people affected by armed conflicts, natural
disasters, and complex emergencies and operates
under the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and
medical ethics.
 It is comprised of thousands of medical and logistical
staff members working in over 70 countries.
Discussion Questions
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How do human rights and humanitarian NGOs
differ in their diplomatic approach?
What are the diplomatic functions of human rights
NGOs? What kinds of strategies and tools to the
use?
How does quiet diplomacy help and hinder the
activities of humanitarian NGOs?
How useful is NGO network diplomacy if major
states reject the aims and goals of diplomacy?