NGO Watch®

Academic Seeks More Flexible Methods of Rights Enforcement

January 22, 2018

Professor Alexander Betts of the University of Oxford argues that the UN system has become "toothless" in an increasingly "illiberal" world and that civil society and governments must invent new, "adaptive" ways to bypass the traditional methods of human rights blaming-and-shaming to hold countries to account for their abuses.
UNESCO Hosts Climate Action Forum for NGOs

January 05, 2018

In December, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosted the 8th International Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), where UNESCO sought buy-in and contributions from NGOs on how to implement the international organization's global strategy for addressing climate change.
HRW Gathers Rights Evidence Through Drones

January 05, 2018

An article from Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that the activist organization has begun using aerial drones to gather information on the implementation of the global human rights agenda and assures the public that HRW guards against the misuse of this technology by conducting "a rigorous review" of legal, security, and privacy issues "before any drone flight."
Observer Seeks More Scrutiny of Aims of "Rights" NGOs

January 03, 2018

Ruthie Blum of the Gatestone Institute writes that the Danish government's decision to halt funding for the Human Rights International Humanitarian Law Secretariat over its ties to anti-Israel nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) is an exception in the general failure of European governments to scrutinize funding that goes to radical causes through pro-"human rights" NGOs.
NGO Report Seeks WTO-Issued "Climate Waivers"

December 07, 2017

The Centre for International Governance Innovation has published a report calling for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to immediately adopt a "climate waiver" regime that permits governments to raise trade barriers in their efforts to comply with their pledges under the UN's Paris climate deal and related international agreements.
NGO: Drone Use Must Comply with Rights Standards

December 07, 2017

In a recent briefing to the UN General Assembly, Amnesty International called on countries including the US and the UK to bring their armed drone programs in line with international human rights standards, including through the public disclosure of the criteria they apply when using armed drones.
NGOs Seek IMF Focus on Economic Equality

December 07, 2017

A group of nongovernmental organizations has produced a report demanding that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) include in its country-by-country analysis and advice a more-comprehensive focus on policies that aim to reduce economic inequality.
NGO Adviser Calls for UN Office on Climate Security

December 01, 2017

Climate change think tank adviser Camilla Born has warned that the UN's Paris deal on limiting global warming "was never going to be enough" and calls on the UN to create an "institutional home" within its system to expand efforts in dealing with the "global peace and security" impacts caused by climate change.
NGO Pushes for More UN Action on "Killer Robots"

November 29, 2017

Human Rights Watch has criticizing recent talks by countries that are a part of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva on international laws restricting the use of "killer robots" that do not require human intervention to engage targets for failing to move ahead with global rules prohibiting such weapons systems.
NGO Project Seeks Flexible Global Governance System

November 29, 2017

An article by Deborah Avant, Miles Kahler, and Jason Pielemeier highlights a project by the Council on Foreign Relations to identify areas, such as climate change, in which governments have failed to collaborate effectively and in which private actors, such as businesses and NGOs, can provide for a more flexible and resilient global governance system.