University/Organization
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Title
Influencing the social, Intergovernmental and International level – How do NGOs Function?

Synopsis
This paper discusses the concept of NGOs as well as the role of the NGOs in various theoretical approaches. It demonstrates that NGOs are successful only in connection with the states and their public as well as other international organizations. The human rights change in a state takes place at different levels: social, intergovernmental and international. NGOs function at all these levels. They maintain continuity by denouncing violations of human rights internationally and place pressure on states within the international community. They build on the monitoring systems of the existing human rights institutions at an intergovernmental level and replace missing resources and expertise. They can highlight the duties to the states with quasi-universal validity of human rights and can always bring human rights violations into the political agenda.

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