Mapping Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Responsibilities in International Human Rights Law: From Existing Norms to Adaptation

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to be held accountable for human rights abuses. Despite this, the UN and human rights literature have largely overlooked the responsibilities of NGOs. There is currently no framework at the UN level outlining these responsibilities. Additionally, human rights scholars have primarily focused on holding states and other non-state actors accountable, such as corporations and terrorist groups. This paper aims to fill this gap by delineating the human rights responsibilities of NGOs based on international human rights law. It argues that existing international human rights law already imposes responsibilities on NGOs, covering areas like right to health and human trafficking. Furthermore, it suggests that the existing human rights framework, especially the business and human rights law tailored for corporations, is versatile enough to be adapted to encompass NGO accountability, thus bridging regulatory and accountability gaps at the international level.