15 Reasons Why NGOs Are Important
There are already millions of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating all over the world. While NGOs can get money from companies and/or government agencies, their primary focus is on political and social objectives. Their operations are intended to be free from government control. Why are these kinds of organisations necessary?
What effect do they have on society? Here are fifteen explanations for this:
1. They offer healthcare services
Millions of lives have been lost as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the global healthcare system is under strain. Even though the worst of the epidemic is probably behind us, it continues to be a persistent problem along with other physical conditions and mental health issues. NGOs carry out tasks including medical care and research. One of the biggest and most well-known NGOs, Doctors Without Borders is present in 70 countries. Jimmy Carter, the former president, launched the Carter Centre in 1982, which spearheaded the effort to end Guinea worm sickness. There were 3.5 million cases annually in 1986. There were just 14 cases reported in 2021. This is an excellent example of how NGOs can achieve their goals.
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2. They support during pandemics
NGOs offer a wide range of medical services, but they can be especially important allies in times of pandemics and epidemics like COVID-19. Local non-governmental organisations were characterised as being "at the heart of" reaching people during COVID-19 in a post published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This is because local NGOs are knowledgeable and have established a reputation of trust in the community. Plan India, a division of Plan International, provided supplies such dry rations, hygiene kits, and education kits to almost 200,000 people during the initial wave of COVID-19. With food handouts, personal protective equipment, and education, the NGO continues to operate while the illness lingers.
3. They deal with hunger
Extreme food scarcity in a country or region can lead to famine. Climate change, natural catastrophes, warfare, and persistent poverty are among the causes. Millions of people still struggle with food insecurity even if famines are uncommon. Roughly ten percent of people worldwide suffer from hunger. There are twenty "hunger hotspots" on the verge of famine, according to a 2022 assessment released by the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Millions would be impacted. Since everyone needs adequate food to survive, many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concentrate on or include hunger alleviation into their programmes. Action Against Hunger works with small businesses, farmers' cooperatives, emergency aid, financial planning for women, and campaigning.
4. They contribute to sanitary conditions and clean water
Sanitation and clean water are so vital that they are listed as Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Though there has been a lot of improvement, the UN estimates that two billion people lack access to safely regulated drinking water. In 2030, 2.8 billion people will lack access to safe drinking water and 1.6 billion to sanitary facilities if the current rate of progress continues. While some NGOs have a specific emphasis, humanitarian NGOs include water and sanitation in their work. By 2032, the UK-based organisation WaterAid, which operates in more than 30 countries, wants to provide clean water and sanitation services to 400 million people.
5. They provide assistance during calamities
Natural calamities such as floods, hurricanes, and famines inflict enormous harm and suffering. From January to October 2022, the United States saw 15 weather/climate crisis occurrences, with damages exceeding $1 billion in each case, according to the National Centres for Environmental Information. In terms of fatalities, extreme weather events in more than 160 nations resulted in almost 475,000 deaths between 2000 and 2019. Emergency services are offered by most humanitarian NGOs. Operating out of the United States, Direct Relief provides services such as oral rehydration salts, hurricane prep packs, emergency medical packs, and more. NGOs frequently collaborate with governments and other intergovernmental bodies, such as the UN.
6. They encourage justice and equality throughout the legal system.
Unpunished police violence, racially biassed judicial systems, the use of the death sentence to silence political opponents, and unjust legislation are some examples of injustices within the legal system. NGOs with a legal focus defend victims, do research, and transform violent, unfair systems. Penal Reform International is one organisation that aims to uphold human rights and ensure equity in criminal justice systems. The growing number of women impacted by the criminal justice system and the needless incarceration of minors are two areas of concern. The NGO is able to consult with several organisations, including the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
7. They save biodiversity and animals
There are too many connections between the environment and human health to count, so when one species declines in health, it affects others as well. In fifty years, there was a 69% decline in wildlife numbers, according to the WWF's Living Planet Report from 2022. While freshwater species worldwide have decreased by 83%, Latin America has suffered the most. Why is this relevant? The health of the earth, including human health, is harmed by biodiversity loss. The absence of a diverse array of species renders wildlife more susceptible to attacks and ultimately extinction. All wildlife grows more susceptible as more species face hardship and extinction. Oceana, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and The World Wildlife Fund are just a few of the environmental NGOs that have made wildlife protection their primary priority.
8. They combat global warming
The sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was published in 2022. It painted a disconcerting image of what might happen if global warming is not addressed swiftly. By 2021–2040, if global warming hits 1.5°C, ecosystems and people will be seriously threatened by increased climatic dangers. There will be increased health problems, fatalities, environmental damage, and so forth. Several NGOs are working to provide answers and increase awareness. A few examples are Fridays for Future, Greenpeace, and the Environmental Defence Fund.
9. They support economic growth
Aim 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals centres on the notion of "economic growth and decent work." Individuals experience harms such as poverty, inadequate access to healthcare, education, and other necessities, in the absence of an equitable and sustainable economy. This means that NGOs frequently concentrate on economic growth. The Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC) is a global non-governmental organisation that fights poverty and operates in 11 different nations. Its endeavours encompass banking, microfinance, urban development, and integrated development—the last of which concentrates on areas of severe poverty. Building sustainability and empowering local communities should be the main objectives of economic development in order to make nations and regions less reliant on disaster relief and humanitarian help.
10. They support the defence of reproductive rights
People's freedom to choose whether and when to have children is guaranteed under reproductive rights. Reproductive rights encompass the provision of prenatal care, the right to a safe delivery, and the right to an abortion. People suffer individually, as families do, and as entire communities do when these rights aren't upheld. Through litigation and court battles, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Centre for Reproductive Rights, a legal advocacy group, strive to enhance reproductive rights. Reproductive rights initiatives are also offered by numerous humanitarian organisations. Plan International collaborates with partners to eliminate harmful practices like forced marriage and guarantee access to sexual health treatments.
11. They promote parity between sexes.
Even after decades of advancement, gender equality is still a long way off. A 2022 World Bank research estimates that 2.4 billion working-age women lack equal chances. Another major problem is violence against women. About 38% of women who are murdered are slain by intimate partners, and about 30% of women had experienced physical or sexual abuse. These startling figures highlight the reasons that the majority of humanitarian organisations give gender equality and women's protection particular priority. Organisations that focus on advocacy, campaign fundraising, and other areas include Womankind Worldwide, Global Fund For Women, and the International Alliance of Women.
12. They safeguard kids
Children are among the most vulnerable populations in the world, even though they make up around ⅓ of the population. Around 290 million infants lack legal documentation of their existence because their births are not recorded, according to Amnesty International. This greatly facilitates the violation of their human rights. Additionally, 1 in 6 children live in extreme poverty and over 61 million children do not attend elementary education. One of the most well-known NGOs in the world working for children is Save the Children International, which has its headquarters in the UK. With thirty national members, it is an international membership organisation. Its main topics of interest include emergencies, learning, protection, survival, and the climate catastrophe.
13. They offer instruction
NGOs also place a lot of emphasis on education, and for good reason. Lack of access to education is connected to a number of issues, including gender inequality, poverty, and worse health and safety. About 129 million females do not attend school, making them more likely than boys to miss out on an education. Education is a major emphasis of humanitarian NGOs like Plan International, CARE, and Save the Children, especially for females. The global union federation of teachers' trade unions is called Education International, and it has its headquarters in Belgium. It is present in 172 nations.
14. They safeguard evacuees
According to the UN, refugees are those who from their homes due to persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular group, or political beliefs. 100 million individuals had been forcibly relocated as of May 2022. The rise of 10.7 million from the end of 2021 was caused by the war in Ukraine and other crises. Since refugees encounter numerous difficulties, such as a higher risk of sexual assault and trafficking, many non-governmental organisations concentrate their efforts on assisting them. Refugees International, RefugePoint, and the International Rescue Committee are a few examples.
15. They defend democracy
In the last 16 years, there has been a decrease in global freedom, claims Freedom House's 2022 report. That year, 60 countries saw a loss in democracy, compared to just 25 that saw improvements. Just 20% of people on Earth today reside in a nation that Freedom House has designated as "Free." NGOs that support and defend democracy include Amnesty International, Freedom House, and Protect Democracy. Advocacy campaigns, studies, legal actions, instruction, crisis support for human rights advocates, and other endeavours are examples of activities.
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