Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization (NGO or from English NGO) or non-governmental organization is a civil society materialize Come association. The English term non- governmental organization was once used by the United Nations ( UN) introduced in order to distinguish civil society representatives who participate in the political processes of the United Nations by the state representatives; non-governmental means was not " state " within the meaning of "state- independent", " independent of government ". Today the term is used by and for organizations who engage in particular social and environmental policy, regardless of a relationship with the UN.

According to Article 71 of the UN Charter can obtain non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations ( ECOSOC), if they meet the conditions set out in ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 criteria.

An NGO that is active worldwide, is referred to as an international non-governmental organization ( INGO ).

Term

The German term NGO is based on the English term non- governmental organization (NGO ). In some cases the term NGO is used. It transmits the Anglo-American concept of governmental precise; the translation for Government would not government, but administration in American English. Nevertheless, the term non-governmental organization has largely prevailed in German, to the English abbreviation NGO ( instead of NGOs).

In English, the following terms are used: independent sector, volunteer sector, civic society, grassroots Organizations respectively transnational social movement Organizations, private voluntary Organizations, self-help Organizations, often non- state actors ( NSAs ). The latter term, however, is broader and encompasses next NGOs and transnational corporations (TNCs ) and, for example, criminal organizations. In the UK research NGO is brought in connection with the global civil society, a global civil society, for example, in Mary Kaldor.

In the traditional German usage NGOs are simply associations. In German is widely spoken even by the third sector. This term goes back to the US- American sociologist Amitai Etzioni.

Structures

It is becoming apparent that non-governmental organizations only by international institutions - to be recognized as such if they - like the United Nations, UNESCO, the Euro Europe or the EU Commission:

Many non-governmental organizations are calling on the European Commission to create a legal form "European Club ", in order to create a European Company similar Community legal capacity.

There are various classification systems for non-governmental organizations. The World Bank, for example distinguishes between operational and advisory organizations.

Financing

Larger NGOs have sometimes annual budget of several million euros. The budget of the Human Rights Watch 2003 comprised about 21.7 million U.S. dollars. Main sources of income in addition to the membership fees above all donations, the proceeds from the sale of goods and services as well as government grants.

Unlike suggested by the term, but depend also many non-governmental organizations to a considerable degree of state resources. For example, the 162 million dollar comprehensive budget relief and development organization Oxfam is financed to a quarter funds from the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Furthermore, non-governmental organizations are also operated to unofficially to influence politics and public opinion in other countries. Thus, the Russian government has repeatedly accused the U.S., massive financial encouragement about the uprisings in Ukraine ( Orange Revolution) and Georgia (Rose Revolution) and has adopted this reasoning in 2005 even stricter laws for NGOs in their own country.