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Nongovernmental Organizations and International Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2017

Extract

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have exerted a profound influence on the scope and dictates of international law. NGOs have fostered treaties, promoted the creation of new international organizations (IOs), and lobbied in national capitals to gain consent to stronger international rules. A decade ago, Antonio Donini, writing about the United Nations, declared that “the Temple of States would be a rather dull place without nongovernmental organisations.” His observation was apt and is suggestive of a more general thesis: had NGOs never existed, international law would have a less vital role in human progress.

Type
Centennial Essays
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 2006

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References

1 Donini, Antonio, The Bureaucracy and the Free Spirits: Stagnation and Innovation in the Relationship Between the UN and NGOs, 16 Third World Q. 421 (1995)Google Scholar.

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4 Id. at 808, 817. He calls the study of such meetings a “new field.” Id. at 817-18 n.8.

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9 For example, the first treaty promulgated by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, committed governments to engage in “consultation” with worker and employer organizations whenever governments sought to provide regulatory exceptions. ILO, Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, No. 1, Nov. 28, 1919, Art. 6.2, 1 International Labour Organisation, International Labour Conventions And Recommendations l (1996), available at <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/index.htm>.

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11 This definition draws from Article 2 of Professor Suzanne Bastid’s resolution cited infra note 58, which sought to establish an international status of associations.

12 Unlike other analysts, I do not reserve the term “NGO” for organizations that pursue a “public interest,” and I do not exclude from the definition of an NGO the labor unions, professional associations, or other organizations that pursue a “single interest” or a “special interest.” In my view, it is not always easy to distinguish a public interest from a special interest or a public benefit from a mutual benefit. Furthermore, a policy organization typically pursues both a membership interest and the organization’s conception of the public interest.

13 Lador-Lederer, J. J., International Non-Governmental Organizations And Economic Entities: A Study In Autonomous Organization And Ius Gentium 13 (1963)Google Scholar. He suggests an alternative term, “International Autonomous Entities.” Id.

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17 UN Charter Art. 71.

18 For example, Jeremy Rabkin has contended that the term “nongovernmental organization” is “a Stalinist concept” originating in a defense by the Soviet Union of its delegation to the ILO. Jeremy Rabkin, Why the Left Dominates NGO Advocacy Networks, written version of paper delivered at conference entitled “Nongovernmental Organizations: The Growing Power of an Unelected Few,” American Enterprise Institute (June 11, 2003), at <http://www.aei.org/events/eventID.329,filter.all/event_detail.asp>.

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22 On the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board, there are five NGOs, including associations of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Arctic Council includes six permanent participants from organizations of Arctic indigenous persons.

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28 Meron, Theodor, Rape as a Crime Under International Humanitarian Law, 87 AJIL 424, 426 (1993)Google Scholar.

29 Mackenzie, Ruth, The Amicus Curiae in International Courts: Towards Common Procedural Approaches? in Civil Society, International Courts and Compliance Bodies 295, 30204 (Treves, Tullio et al. eds., 2005)Google Scholar (discussing filtering mechanisms).

30 Shelton, Dinah, The Participation of Nongovernmental Organizations in International Judicial Proceedings, 88 AJIL 611, 64142 (1994)Google Scholar. Her study dealt extensively with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.

31 See, e.g., Hervé, Ascensio, Lamicus curiae devant les juridictions international, 105 Revue Générale de Droit International Public [RGDIP] 897 (2001)Google Scholar.

32 Chinkin, Christine & Mackenzie, Ruth, Intergovernmental Organizations as “Friends of the Court, “in International Organizations and International Dispute Settlement: Trends and Prospects 135, 14849 Google Scholar ( Laurence, Boisson de Chazournes, Cesare, P. R. Romano, & Mackenzie, Ruth eds., 2002)Google Scholar; Patrizia De, Cesari, NGOs and the Activities of the Ad Hoc Criminal Tribunals for Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, in Civil Society, International Courts and Compliance Bodies, supra note 29, at 113 Google Scholar.

33 Gautier, Philippe, NGOs and Law of the Sea Disputes, in Civil Society, International Courts And Compliance Bodies, supra note 29, at 233, 242 Google Scholar.

34 Bartholomeusz, Lance, The Amicus Curiae Before International Courts and Tribunals, 5 Non-State Actors & Int’l L. 209, 212 (2005)Google Scholar (“Although the Court was initially open to NGO participation in its advisory jurisdiction, in 1971 it locked the door, let some materials slip under the door in 1996, and then since 2004 left it slightly ajar.”).

35 ICJ, Practice Direction XII (July 30, 2004)Google Scholar, available at <http://www.icj-cij.org>.

36 Laurence Boisson de, Chazournes & Makane Moïse, Mbengue, The Amici Curiae and the WTO Dispute Settlement System: The Doors Are Open, 2 L. & Prac. Int’l Cts. & Tribunals 205 (2003)Google Scholar.

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38 Sean, D. Murphy, Contemporary Practice of the United States, 98 AJIL 841 (2004)Google Scholar. 39 Methanex, Final Award on Jurisdiction and Merits, para. 27 (NAFTA Ch. 11 Arb. Trib. Aug. 3, 2005), available at <http://www.state.gOv/s/l/c5818.htm>.

40 Bartholomeusz, supra note 34, at 265-72, 285. One was a case under NAFTA using UNCITRAL rules (the UPS case), and the other a case under a bilateral investment treaty between France and Argentina using 1CSID rules (the Aguas argentinas case).

41 See Jeffrey, L. Dunoff, Border Patrol at the World Trade Organization, 1998 Y.B. Int’l Envtl. L. 20, 2223 Google Scholar (predicting that the openness to amicus briefs would be illusory).

42 United States—Investigation of the International Trade Commission in Softwood Lumber from Canada, Doc. WT/DS277/R, para. 7.10 n.75 (adopted Apr. 26, 2004).

43 Nsongurua, J. Udombana, So Far, So Fair: The Local Remedies Rule in the Jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 97 AJIL 1, 2 (2003)Google Scholar; Zagorac, Dean, International Courts and Compliance Bodies: The Experience of Amnesty International, in Civil Society, International Courts and Compliance Bodies, supra note 29, at 11, 3437 Google Scholar.

44 Hey, Ellen, The World Bank Inspection Panel: Towards the Recognition of a New Legally Relevant Relationship to International Law, 2 Hofstra L. & Pol’y Symp. 61, 66 (1997)Google Scholar. Edith Brown Weiss has suggested that the Inspection Panel is part of “growing efforts to provide means to civil society to hold international intergovernmental organizations accountable for their actions.” Edith Weiss, Brown, Invoking State Responsibility in the Twenty-first Century, AJIL 798, 815 n.1 19 (2002)Google Scholar.

45 Rôle of Non-governmental Groups in the Development of International Law, 54 ASIL Proc. 194, 220, 221 (1960)Google Scholar (comments of Oscar Schachter).

46 See, e.g., David, P. Forsythe, Who Guards the Guardians: Third Parties and the Law of Armed Conflict, 70 AJIL 41, 4446 (1976)Google Scholar (discussing the formal role of the ICRC); Harold K. Jacobson & Edith Weiss, Brown, Assessing the Record and Designing Strategies to Engage Countries, in Engaging Countries: Strengthening Compliance With International Environmental Accords 511, 527, 529, 533 Google Scholar ( Edith, Brown Weiss & Harold, K. Jacobson eds., 1998)Google Scholar; Prasad, Maya, The Role of Non-governmental Organizations in the New United Nations Procedures for Human Rights Complaints, 5 Denv. J. Int’l L. & Pol’y 441 (1975)Google Scholar.

47 Chayes, Abram & Antonia, Handler Chayes, The New Sovereignty: Compliance With International Regulatory Agreements, ch. n, at 250, 251 (1995)Google Scholar.

48 First Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, Decision 1/7, UN Doc. ECE/MP.PP/2/Add.8, annex, para. 4 (2004). NGOs can also submit communications alleging noncompliance by a party to the Convention. See Report of the Compliance Committee, UN Doc. ECE/MP.PP/2005/13, paras. 24-27. The Aarhus Convention is the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, June 25, 1998, 38 ILM 517 (1999).

49 SC Res. 771, para. 5 (Aug. 13, 1992).

50 SC Res. 1470, para. 8 (Mar. 28, 2003).

51 Edwin, M. Borchard, The Access of Individuals to International Courts, 24 AJIL 359, 364 (1930)Google Scholar.

52 Higgins, Rosalyn, Conceptual Thinking About the Individual in International Law, in International Law: A Contemporary Perspective 476, 480 (Falk, Richard, Kratochwil, Friedrich, & Saul Mendlovitz, H. eds., 1985)Google Scholar.

53 See generally Martens, Kerstin, Examining the (Non-)Status of NGOs in International Law, Ind. J. Global Legal Stud., Summer 2003, at 1 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Nowrot, Karsten, Legal Consequences of Globalization: The Status of Non-governmental Organizations Under International Law, 6 Ind. J. Global Legal Stud. 579 (1999)Google Scholar.

54 This problem was recognized by the late nineteenth century. For example, Pasquale Fiore wrote that societies (which are “the result of freedom of association for a common interest”) are granted rights by the sovereignty of a state, and thus that such societies “may not as of right exercise their functions in foreign countries.” Fiore, Pasquale, International Law Codified And Its Legal Sanction 3435 n.1 (Edwin, M. Borchard trans., 1918)Google Scholar.

55 1 Union of International Associations, International Association Statute Series, app. 4.1 (1988)Google Scholar. This and the other documents noted here from the UIA Statute Series are available online at <http://www.uia.be/legal/>. The predecessor organization to the UIA was founded in 1907.

56 The one concrete achievement occurred in 1986 with the signing of the European Convention on the Recognition of Legal Personality of International NGOs. It requires parties to recognize “as of right” the legal personality and capacity acquired by an NGO in any of the parties. European Convention on the Recognition of the Legal Personality of International Non-governmental Organisations, Apr. 24, 1986, Art. 2, ETS No. 124. The Convention has eight parties.

57 Institut de droit international, Draft Convention Relating to the Legal Position of International Associations (1923), reprinted in Union of International Associations, supra note 55, app. 4.5 [hereinafter Draft Convention]; see James Scott, Brown, The Institute of International Law, 17 AJIL 751, 75356 (1923)Google Scholar.

58 Resolution adopted by the Institute of International Law at its 49th Session, reprinted in Union of International Associations, supra note 55, app. 4.8, and in 45 AJIL Supp. 15, 20 (1951)Google Scholar.

59 C. Jenks, Wilfred, Multinational Entities in the Law of Nations, in Transnational Law In A Changing Society: Essays In Honor Of Philip C. Jessup 70, 77 Google Scholar ( Friedmann, Wolfgang, Henkin, Louis, & Lissitzyn, Oliver eds., 1972)Google Scholar.

60 Menno, T. Kamminga, The Evolving Status of NGOs Under International Law: A Threat to the Inter-State System? in Non-State Actors and Human Rights, supra note 10, at 93, 9899 Google Scholar. In addition, the ICRC and the federation were granted observer status in the UN General Assembly in the early 1990s. Note that the ICRC claims to be an entity other than an IO or NGO. ICRC, Discover The ICRC 6 (2005).

61 Draft Convention, supra note 57, pmbl.

62 See Rebasti, Emanuele, Workshop Report, A Legal Status for NGOs in Contemporary International Law? (Eur. Univ. Inst. Workshop Report, Nov. 2002)Google Scholar, at <http://users.unimi.it/sociv/documenti/report.doc> (remarks of Pierre-Marie Dupuy).

63 Ruth B. Russell (assisted by Jeannete E. Muther), A History Of The United Nations Charter 800-01 (1958) (stating that Article 71 “formalized a normal practice under the League of Nations of consulting with interested nongovernmental organizations concerned with pertinent economic and social activities”). Of course, consultations with NGOs had declined in the period preceding 1945.

64 Convention on the International Institute of Agriculture, June 7, 1905, Art. 9(f), 35 Stat. 1918, 1 Bevans 436. Unofficial international agricultural congresses had begun in 1878.

65 League of Nations Covenant Art. 25; Chandler, P. Anderson, The International Red Cross Organization, 14 AJIL 210, 214 (1920)Google Scholar.

66 See, e.g., 29 International Law Association, Conference Report 363-65 (1920) (remarks of Wyndham A. Bewes); Manley, O. Hudson, The First Conference for the Codification of International Law, 24 AJIL 447, 451 (1930)Google Scholar (noting that organizations of women sent representatives to the conference at The Hague and that a conference committee devoted a session to hearing statements from the organizations).

67 Convention and Statute Establishing an International Relief Union, July 12, 1927; Convention Art. 5(2), Statute Art. 1, 135 LNTS 248. The International Relief Union was the first IO to have a provision in its charter providing for a consultative capacity for NGOs.

68 Lyman, Cromwell White (assisted by Marie, Ragonetti Zocca), International Non-Governmental Organizations: Their Purposes, Methods, And Accomplishments 24647 (1951)Google Scholar.

69 Article 71, in 2 The Charter of The United Nations: A Commentary 1069, 1070 (Simma, Bruno ed., 2d ed. 2002)Google Scholar (making no mention of the lobbying by NGOs at the conference); Leland, M. Goodrich, Hambro, Edvard, & Anne, Patricia Simons, Charter Of The United Nations: Commentary And Documents 444 (3d & rev. ed. 1969)Google Scholar (mentioning the NGOs but not the active role they played).

70 See Democratic Processes: The Non-governmental Organizations, 1951 Ann. Rev. UN Aff. 165, 182 (remarks of Waldo Chamberlin); Dorothy B. Robins, Experiment In Democracy: The Story Of U.S. Citizen Organizations In Forging The Charter Of The United Nations 122-28 (1971) (noting the catalytic role of James T. Shotwell). Robins and Chamberlin were both present at the San Francisco Conference. See also Suy, E., The Status of Observers in International Organizations, 160 Recueil des Cours 75, 102 (1978 II)Google Scholar (noting the pressure brought by the NGOs on the drafters of the Charter).

71 Lauterpacht, H., International Law And Human Rights 24-26, 6364 (1950)Google Scholar; Otto, Dianne, Nongovernmental Organizations in the United Nations System: The Emerging Role of International Civil Society, 18 Hum. Rts Q. 107, 127 (1996)Google Scholar. For a survey of current UN practices by agency, see UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service, UN System Engagement With NGOS, Civil Society, The Private Sector, And Other Actors: A Compendium (2005), available at <http://www.un-ngls.org/publications.htm>.

72 Review of Consultative Arrangements with Non-governmental Organizations, ESC Res. 288 (X), para. 8 (Feb. 27, 1950), reprinted in Lador-Lederer, supra note 13, app. C, at 387 [hereinafter 1950 NGO Rule]; Arrangements for Consultation with Non-governmental Organizations, ESC Res. 1296 (XLIV) (May 23, 1968), available at <www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/ngo-un/info/res-1296.htm>; Consultative Relationship Between the United Nations and Non-governmental Organizations, ESC Res. 1996/31 (July 25, 1996), available at <http:l/www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/Resolution_1996_31/index.htm> [hereinafter 1996 NGO Rule].

73 1950 NGO Rule, supra note 72, para. 5.

74 1996 NGO Rule, supra note 72, para. 9 (emphasis added).

75 Compare 1950 NGO Rule, supra note 72, paras. 8-9, with 1996 NGO Rule, supra note 72, paras. 4-5 .

76 1996 NGO Rule, supra note 72, paras. 10, 12.

77 Id, para. 57(a).

78 Id., para. 56.

79 See, e.g., Jurij Aston, Daniel, The United Nations Committee on Non-governmental Organizations: Guarding the Entrance to a Politically Divided House, 12 Eur. J. Int’l L. 943 (2001)Google Scholar. The recent Report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations (Cardoso Report) stated that “it is essential to depoliticize the accreditation process.” We the Peoples: Civil Society, the United Nations and Global Governance, UN Doc. A/58/817, at 54, para. 127 (2004).

80 OAS Permanent Council, CP/Res. 759 (1217/99) (1999).

81 Corinne, A. A. Packer & Rukare, Donald, The New African Union and Its Constitutive Act, 96 AJIL 365, 375 (2002)Google Scholar.

82 Kiss, Alexandre & Shelton, Dinah, International Environmental Law 167 (3d ed. 2004)Google Scholar.

83 The definition is found in a funding limitation on the number of U.S. employees who may attend a conference. Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-108, §634, 119 Stat. 2290(2005).

84 José E. Alvarez, International Organizations as Law-Makers 611 (2005); see also Eibe Riedel, The Development of International Law: Alternatives to Treaty-Making? International Organizations and Non-State Actors, in DEVELOPMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN TREATY MAKING 301,317 (Rudiger Wolfrum & Volkt r Roben eds., 2005) (stating that NGO involvement in all processes of IO activities has been crucial and indispensable!.

85 See, e.g., CONSTRUCTING WORLD CULTURE: INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION S SINCE 1875 (John Boli & George M. Thomas eds., 1999); ‘THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD’: THE INFLUENCE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE UN SYSTEM (Peter Willetts ed., 1996); Tom Farei, New Players in the Old Game: The De Facto Expansion of Standing to Participate in Global Security Negotiations, 38 AM. BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST 842 (1995); Anne-Marie Slaughter, International Law and International Relations, 285 RECUEIL DES COURS 9, 96-151 (2000) (constituting chapter 3, The Role of NGOs in International Lawmaking); The GrowingRole of Nongovernmental Organizations, 89 ASIL PROC. 413 (1995); P. J. Simmons, Learning to Live with NGOs, FOREIGN POL'Y, Fall 1998, at 82.

86 S. H. BAILEY, THE FRAMEWORK O F INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY 81 (1932).

87 Id. at 82.

88 PHILIP C. JESSUP, ADOLF LANDE, & OLIVER J. LISSITZYN, INTERNATIONAL REGULATION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL QUESTIONS 33 (1955).

89 Rosalyn Higgins, The Reformation in Lnternational Law, in LAW, SOCIETY AND ECONOMY 207, 211-1 5 (Richard Rawlings ed., 1997).

90 Id. at 212, 215.

91 Id. at 215.

92 See Marek St. Korowicz, The Problem of the International Personality of Individuals, 50 AJIL 533, 534 (1956) (noting the views of Grotius and Pufendorf); Myres S. McDougal & Gertrude C. K. Leighton, The Rights of Man in the World Community: Constitutional Illusions Versus Rational Action, 59 YALE L.J. 60, 83 (1949) (stating that “[i]t is indeed only from the narrowest perspectives of international law as conceived in the period since Bentham that an observer can claim that even theoretically only states, exclusive of individuals, are the subjects of international law”).

93 On customary international law, see John, King Gamble & Ku, Charlotte, International Law—New Actors and New Technologies: Center Stage for NGOs:? 31 Law & Pol’y Int’l Bus. 221, 244 (2000)Google Scholar; Hobe, Stephan, The Role of Non-State Actors, in Particular of NGOs, in Non-contractual Law-making and the Development of Customary International Law, in Developments of International Law in Treaty Making, supra note 84, at 319, 328 Google Scholar.

94 The issues in play were the slave trade, religious freedom, and intellectual property. Max, J. Kohler, Jewish Rights at International Congresses, Am.Jewish Y.B. 5678, at 106, 10910 (1917)Google Scholar; Lauren, supra note 25, at 40; Nicolson, Harold, The Congress of Vienna: A Study in Allied Unity: 1812-1822, at 132 (1946)Google Scholar.

95 See David, D. Caron, War and International Adjudication: Reflections on the 1899 Peace Conference, 94 AJIL 4, 15 (2000)Google Scholar. In 1908, in his Nobel Peace Prize lecture, Fredrik Bajer likened the “organization of peace” to a “house of three stories,” including on the first story the peace associations; on the second story, the inter parliamentary conferences; and on the third story, the intergovernmental Hague Peace conferences. Fredrik Bajer, The Organization of the Peace Movement (May 18, 1908), at <http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1908/bajer-lecture.html>.

96 International Conference on Customs and Other Similar Formalities: Official Instruments Approved by the Conference, League of Nations Doc. C.D.I.96(1).1923, at 25; George, L. Ridgeway, Merchants Of Peace 21213 (1938)Google Scholar.

97 Paul, S. Reinsch, International Administrative Law and National Sovereignty, 3 AJIL 1, 22 (1909)Google Scholar.

98 Fenwick, C.G., The “Failure” of the League of Nations, 30 AJIL 506, 508 (1936)Google Scholar.

99 Wright, Quincy, Activities of the Institute of International Law, 54 ASIL Proc. 194, 196 (1960)Google Scholar.

100 Id. He also observed that private groups are free to make use of persons from all over the world.

101 Kazansky, Pierre, Théorie de l’administration internationale, 9 RGDIP 353, 354, 357 (1902)Google Scholar (trans, byauthor).

102 Mat 361.

103 See, e.g., Margaret, E. Keck & Sikkink, Kathryn, Activists Beyond Borders 1 (1997)Google Scholar; Harold Hongju, Koh, Bringing International Law Home, 35 Hous. L. Rev. 623, 646, 647 (1998)Google Scholar; Ethan, A. Nadelmann, Global Prohibition Regimes: The Evolution of Norms in International Society, 44 Int’l Org. 479, 482 (1990)Google Scholar.

104 Myres, S. McDougal, The Role of Law in World Politics, 20 Miss. L.J. 253, 260, 265 (1949)Google Scholar; see Higgins, Rosalyn, Problems and Process: International Law and How We Use It 4950 (1994)Google Scholar (explaining that international law is a dynamic decision-making process rather than merely a set of rules).

105 Daniel, C. Esty, Non-governmental Organizations at the World Trade Organization: Cooperation, Competition, or Exclusion, 1 J. Int’l Econ. L. 123, 13537 (1998)Google Scholar.

106 Ranjeva, Raymond, Les organisations non gouvemementales et la mise en oeuvre du droit international, 270 Recueil Des Cours 9, 23, 100 (1997)Google Scholar.

107 See, e.g., Harold Koh, Hongju, Transnational Legal Process, 75 Neb. L. Rev. 181, 20304 (1996)Google Scholar.

108 See Reinsch, supra note 97, at 15-16; Raustiala, Kal, The “Participatory Revolution “in International Environmental Law, 21 Harv. Envtl. L. Rev. 537, 58284 (1997)Google Scholar.

109 See Alvarez, supra note 84, at 287, 610, 612.

110 UN Press Release SG/SM/7318, Partnership with Civil Society Necessity in Addressing Global Agenda, Says Secretary-General in Wellington, New Zealand Remarks (Feb. 29, 2000).

111 See, e.g., Fitzmaurice, Malgosia, Actors and Factors in the Evolution of Treaty Norms, 4 Austrian Rev. Int’l & Eur. L. 1 (1999)Google Scholar; Volker, Röben, Proliferation of Actors, in Developments of International Law in Treaty Making, supra note 84, at 511, 512 Google Scholar. The earliest textbooks on international organization gave attention to NGOs. See, e.g., Frederick, Charles Hicks, The New World Order, ch. 20 (1920)Google Scholar; Pitman, B. Potter, An Introduction To The Study Of International Organization, ch. 18 (rev. ed. 1922)Google Scholar.

112 David Bederman has suggested that IOs be visualized as “communities.” David, J. Bederman, The Souls of International Organizations: Legal Personality and the Lighthouse at Cape Spartel, 36 Va. J. Int’l L. 275, 37172 (1996)Google Scholar.

113 See, e.g., Palmer, Geoffrey, New Ways to Make International Environmental Law, 86 AJIL 259, 28083 (1992)Google Scholar.

114 Virginia, A. Leary, Lessons from the Experience of the International Labour Organisation, in The United Nations and Human Rights 580, 585 (Alston, Philip ed., 1992)Google Scholar.

115 See Maragia, Bosire, Almost There: Another Way of Conceptualizing and Explaining NGOs’ Quest for Legitimacy in Global Politics, 2 Non-St. Actors & Int’l L. 301, 313 (2002)Google Scholar; see also Simma, Bruno, From Bilateralism to Community Interest in International Law, 250 Recueil des Cours 217, 23536 (1994 VI)Google Scholar (noting the vital role of NGOs and asking whether sovereign states have a moral basis for monopolizing the discourse on the definition and pursuit of community interests in international law).

116 Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, 1996 ICJ Rep. 226, 287-88, para. 2 (July 8) (Guiilaume, J., sep. op.). He suggested “piercing the veil” of the IOs. Id. In its opinion, the Court stated “that the political nature of the motives which may be said to have inspired the request and the political implications that the opinion given might have are of no relevance in the establishment of its jurisdiction to give such an opinion.” 1996 ICJ Rep. at 234, para. 13.

117 Id. at 288, para. 2 (Guiilaume, J., sep. op.).

118 Id. at 335-36, para. 8 (Oda, J., dissenting). Regarding the World Health Organization’s request, Judge Oda issued a separate opinion agreeing with the Court’s decision to decline to render an opinion, but holding that the advocacy by the NGOs was an additional reason to decline. Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict, 1996 ICJ Rep. 66, 92-96, paras. 9, 15-16 (Oda, J., sep. op.).

119 John, R. Bolton, Should We Take Global Governance Seriously? 1 Chi. J. Int’l L. 205, 217 (2000)Google Scholar.

120 Id.

121 Anderson, Kenneth & Rieff, David, ‘Global Civil Society’: A Sceptical View, in Global Civil Society 2004/5, at 26, 37 (Anheier, Helmut et al. eds., 2004)Google Scholar.

122 Id. at 29.

123 Id. At 30.

124 Id. at 34.

125 Note that the idea of NGOs as serving a representative function at the United Nations goes back to how UN member governments implemented Article 71 in 1950 in calling for an accredited NGO to “represent a substantial proportion of the organized persons within the particular field in which it operates.” See text at note 73 supra.

126 Scelle, Georges, Une Crise De La Société Des Nations 14446 (1927)Google Scholar (trans, by author). Scelle’s term for NGOs was extra-state societies. Scelle, Georges, Précis De Droit Des Gens 288 (1932)Google Scholar.

127 Schucking, Walther, Le développement du Facte de la Société des nations, 20 Recueil des Cours 349, 394 (1927 V)Google Scholar (trans, by author). In 1921 Schücking said that “the time had arrived in which it was necessary to create a new international law not only for states but for peoples, in order that the natural law of peoples to govern themselves should penetrate the law positive.” James Scott, Brown, Walter Schiücking, January 6, 1875-August 25, 1935, 31 AJIL 107, 109 (1937)Google Scholar (quoting Schucking at Institut de droit international, Rome, Oct. 8, 1921).

128 Berenstein, Alexandre, Les Organisations Ouvriéres: Leurs Compétences Et Leur Rôle Dans La Société Des Nations 277 (1936)Google Scholar (trans, by author).

129 Mitrany, David, An Advance in Democratic Representation, 6 Int’l Associations 136, 188 (1954)Google Scholar. Yet he presciently warned that “if the NGO’s are to become the accepted channel of international public opinion they will have to display a sense of restraint and responsibility in their views and claims; and perhaps also perform among themselves a certain process of selection.” Id.

130 Crawford, James & Marks, Susan, The Global Democracy Deficit: An Essay in International Law and Its Limits, in Re-Imagining Political Community: Studies in Cosmopolitan Democracy 72, 83 (Archibugi, Daniele, Held, David, & Martin, Köhler eds., 1998)Google Scholar.

131 Kamminga, supra note 60, at 110.

132 Thomas, M. Franck, Remarks, in Non-State Actors as New Subjects of International Law 151, 152 (Hofmann, Rainer ed., 1998)Google Scholar. Professor Franck’s views on NGOs have evolved. Several years ago, he wrote that introducing the voice of individuals and interest groups in diplomatic negotiations “ameliorates, but does not cure, the legitimacy-deficit of Vattelian international governance and the modern alienation that ensues.” Thomas, M. Franck, The Empowered Self: Law And Society In The Age Of Individualism 36 (1999)Google Scholar.

133 Florentino, P. Feliciano, Book Review, 68 Yale L.J. 1039, 1047 (1959)Google Scholar (reviewing Wilfred Jenks, C., The Common Law Of Mankind (1958)Google Scholar).

134 In that regard, the goal of lobbying is functionally the same at the international level as it is at the domestic level, where the individual is typically governed by parliaments containing many members for whom he had no opportunity to vote.

135 Bodansky, Daniel, The Legitimacy of International Governance: A Coming Challenge for International Environmental Law? 93 AJIL 596, 612 (1999)Google Scholar.

136 Robert, O. Keohane & Joseph, S. Nye Jr., The Club Model of Multilateral Cooperation and Problems of Democratic Legitimacy, in Efficiency, Equity, And Legitimacy: The Multilateral Trading System At The Millennium 264, 282 (Roger, B. Porter et al. eds., 2001)Google Scholar. They cite earlier work by Fritz Scharpf on input and output legitimacy. Id. at 293 n.40.

137 M a t 283-84.

138 Id. at 289-90.

139 Robert, O. Keohane, The Contingent Legitimacy of Multilateralism, in Multilateralism Under Challenge? Power, International Order, and Structural Change (Newman, Edward, Thakur, Ramesh, & Tirman, John eds., forthcoming 2006)Google Scholar.

140 See Dunn, Fredericks, The International Rights of Individuals, 35 ASILProc. 14, 18 (1941)Google Scholar (suggesting that if international law is to regain its former influence, then it needs to be in harmony with social developments in democracy that entail a right of the individual to be consulted in matters affecting his welfare).

141 See, e.g., Edwards, Michael, Ngo Rights And Responsibilities (2000)Google Scholar; Reinisch, August, The Changing International Legal Framework for Dealing with Non-State Actors, in Non-State Actors and Human Rights, supra note 10, at 37, 4849 Google Scholar; Peter, J. Spiro, Accounting for NGOs, 3 Chi. J. Int’l L. 161 (2002)Google Scholar; Stein, Eric, International Integration and Democracy: No Love at First Sight, 95 AJIL489, 533 (2001)Google Scholar.

142 Chinkin, Christine, Human Rights and the Politics of Representation: Is There a Role for International Law? in The Role Of Law In International Politics: Essays In International Relations And International Law 131, 144 (Byers, Michael ed., 2000)Google Scholar.

143 See Chiang, Pei-Heng, Non-Governmental Organizations At The United Nations 5 (1981)Google Scholar (suggesting that the most important function of NGOs is “providing alternative programs and ideas, and views in opposition to or critical of official policies and opinions”).

144 Mary, F. Dominick, Consultation, 1 Encyclopedia Of Public International Law 776, 778 (1992)Google Scholar. See generally Frederic, L. Kirgis Jr., Prior Consultation In International Law (1983)Google Scholar.

145 An example of an advisory group is the Business Advisory Council of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. Notice-and-comment opportunities are provided in several IOs, for example, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. For examples of multistakeholder dialogues, see Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, UN Doc. A/CONF. 198/11, annex, para. 69 (2002); World Summit on the Information Society, Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, para. 72 (2005), available at <http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents>.

146 At the 2004 meeting, CARE International and the International Center for Transitional Justice briefed Council members on the role of civil society in post conflict peace building. Arria and Other Special Meetings Between NGOs and Security Council Members, June 22, 2004, available at <http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/mtgsetc/brieindx.htm>; Wedgwood, Ruth, Legal Personality and the Role of Non-governmental Organizations and Non-State Political Entities in the United Nations System, in Non-State Actors as New Subjects of International Law, supra note 132, at 21, 27 Google Scholar.

147 Before the summit, the president of the General Assembly presided over informal interactive hearings with NGOs and the private sector.

148 Guidelines for Arrangements on Relations with Non-governmental Organizations, Doc. WT/L/162, para. VI (1996). Once a year, the WTO Secretariat sponsors a symposium in which invited NGOs participate in panel sessions along with business leaders, government officials, and academics. In addition, NGOs are invited to attend WTO ministerial conferences as silent obervers. For example, in December 2005, over eight hundred NGOs attended the Hong Kong ministerial conference.

149 Id.

150 Chinkin, Christine, Enhancing the International law Commission’s Relationships with Other Law-making Bodies and Relevant Academic and Professional Institutions, in Making Better International Law: The International Law Commission At 50, at 333, 33941 Google Scholar , UN Sales No. E/F.98.V.5 (1998); Charlesworth, Hilary & Chinkin, Christine, The Boundaries Of International Law: A Feminist Analysis 101 (2000)Google Scholar.

151 Statute of the International Law Commission, Art. 26(1).

152 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Dec. 16, 1966, Art. 19(2), 999 UNTS 331 (emphasis added).

153 American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, May 2, 1948, Art. XXIV, 43 AJIL Supp. 133 (1949).

154 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, Sept. 18, 1997, Arts. 11.4, 12.3, 13.2, 36 ILM 1507(1997).

155 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Mar. 3, 1973, Art. XI(7)(a),993 UNTS 243, 12 ILM 1085 (1973). The Aarhus Convention of 1998 contains a similar provision. Aarhus Convention, supra note 48, Art. 10(5).

156 That language occurs in conventions regarding the ozone layer, hazardous waste, climate change, biodiversity, desertification, hazardous chemicals, and persistent organic pollutants. In some meetings, NGOs are invited to make oral statements at the invitation of the chair.

157 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, ch. 27.9(b), UN Doc. A/CONF. 151/26 (1992), UN Sales No. E.93.I.11.

158 Community of Democracies, 2005 Santiago Ministerial Commitment, Cooperating for Democracy, §1 (Apr. 30, 2005)Google Scholar, available at <http://www.state.gOv/g/drl/cl0712.htm>.

159 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, GARes. 53/144, annex, Art. 5 (Mar. 8, 1999) (emphases added).

160 White, Lyman, Non-governmental Organizations and Their Relations with the United Nations, 1951 Ann. Rev. UN Aff. 165, 16667 Google Scholar. At the time that he made this observation, White was a UN staff official working on NGO affairs.

161 Janne Elisabeth Nijman, The Concept Of International Legal Personality 469 (2004) (suggesting that when groups “are silenced or suppressed, the international community has a duty to accommodate these groups on stage and to be an audience to them”); Laurence Boisson de, Chazournes & Sands, Philippe, Introduction to International Law, The International Court of Justice and Nuclear Weapons 1 , 10 (Laurence, Boisson de Chazournes & Sands, Philippe eds., 1999)Google Scholar (seeing a “growing entitlement of individuals and non-governmental organisations to a more formal and informal involvement in international judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings”); Higgins, quoted in text at note 91 supra (using the term “entitlement”); Nowrot, supra note 53, at 625 (suggesting that the participatory rights granted to NGOs under the internal law of the United Nations are a form of entitlement); Willetts, Peter, From “Consultative Arrangements” to “Partnership”: The Changing Status of NGOs in Diplomacy at the UN, 6 Global Governance 191, 205 (2000)Google Scholar (suggesting that Article 71 of the UN Charter can now be regarded as part of customary international law and seeing evidence for this in the way that NGOs can gain access even when the political climate turns against them).

162 Kant, Immanuel, To Perpetual Peace, in Perpetual Peace and Other Essays on Politics, History, and Morals 107, 126 (Humphrey, Ted trans., 1983) (Kant pagination 36869)Google Scholar.

163 Id.

164 Id. A similar idea was voiced in 1916 by Henri La Fontaine, who wrote that the highest interests of humanity

have found their expression in numerous free organizations; the international needs of men have induced them to come into closer relations despite frontiers and to unite in order the better to satisfy these needs. It is natural that they will appeal to the Conference of States and try to obtain its aid; it seems right to allow them to transmit their wishes to the Conference and submit to it the best means of realizing them.

Henri, La Fontaine, The Great Solution 65 (1916)Google Scholar. La Fontaine does not discuss Kant. On, La Fontaine, see The Award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Senator Henri LaFontaine, 8 AJIL 137 (1914)Google Scholar.

165 Feinberg, Nathan, La petition en droit international, 40 Recueil des Cours 529, 628 (1932 II)Google Scholar. Feinberg also discusses the legal status of the “petition-complaint” in which the petitioner demands rectification for an injury to its private interest.

166 Id. at 631 (trans, by author).

167 Id. at 632.

168 Id. at 638. Feinberg wrote in 1932, a high-water mark for NGO participation in the pre-World War II period.

169 Louis B. Sohn, Remarks on the role of lawyers and resourcefulness, legal, in The Effectiveness Of International Decisions: Papers Of A Conference Of The American Society Of International Law And The Proceedings Of The Conference 488, 491 (Stephen, M. Schwebel ed., 1971)Google Scholar.

170 Pound, Roscoe, The Idea of Law in International Relations, 33 ASIL Proc. 10, 18 (1939)Google Scholar.

171 Id. at 21. Pound says that he borrowed the term “englobing” from the French jurists of the international school.