NGOs as Agents of Public Accountability and Democratization in Intergovernmental Forums
Author(s)
Bischsel, Anne
Abstract
Decision making on issues such as the environment, trade and development has been shifting from national and international forums such as environmental conventions and the multilateral development banks. Such forums do not afford citizens the same rights of access to information and to the decision-making process that they enjoy domestically. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all sectors are working to increase participation by civil society in intergovernmental decision-making processes. To make inroads at the international level, NGOs need to influence the positions of several governments simultaneously. This requires cooperation between NGOs from different countries as well as between grassroots, national and regional NGOs. To meet this challenge, NGOs are establishing national and transnational NGO networks and coalitions.
