User:Falhejji/International non-governmental organization

An international non-governmental organization (INGO) is an organization which is independent of government involvement and extends the concept of a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an international scope. INGOs can admit members affiliated to government authorities as long as it does not interfere with their freedom to express themselves. Around the world, there are about 75,000 international organizations and about 42,000 of them are active.

INGOs are independent of governments and can be seen as two types: advocacy INGOs, which aim to influence governments with a specific goal, and operational INGOs, which provide services. INGOs have several roles including but not limited to environmental preservation, human rights promotions and Women's empowerment. INGOs are non-profit and are usually funded the same way NGOs are funded; grants, private donations, membership fee, etc. Large INGOs can work together with indvidual countries both in operational and advocacy capacities.

Intergovernmental organizations such as International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations are formed when sovereign states form treaties but INGOs are not bound by state treaties when operating internationally.

INGOs can either be private philanthropic organizations such as Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gates, and Ford Foundations or as arms of existing internation insitutions like the Catholic Church. After World War II, INGOs began to increase due to the need for economic development or humanitarian needs. Such INGOs include SOS Children's Villages, Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services, Care International, and Lutheran World Relief. However, the influence of INGOs started to extended heavily in the 1980s.

Except for incorporation under national laws, no current formal legal status exists for INGOs, which can lead to complications in international law.^{[dubious – discuss]} INGOs have been trying to get a legal status under the international law. They have not legal personality and therefore, no formal rights. INGOs must then operate under state laws. China for instance, only allows foreign NGOs that have Chinese sponsor organizations.

History

International non-governmental organizations emerged as a result of the need for humanitarian aid as global problems increased after World Wars. No single government could solve these problems leading to the formation of INGOs. One of the oldest INGO is Save the Children-UK that was founded in 1919. Since then, INGOs have been operating under their founding principles to provide different community welfare models.