A non-governmental organization is termed as any type of non-profit organization created by a voluntary citizen’s group and organized either on a local, national or even international level. NGOs are tasked oriented where they perform a variety service as well as humanitarian functions, while also while also airing people’s concerns to governments, advocating and also monitoring policies within a country, as well as promoting people’s political and democratic participation[1]. Generally, NGOs are organized around various specific issues among them healthcare, human rights, humanitarian, educational, public policy among other areas. On the other hand, IGOs refers organizations created by either sovereign states or in some instances by other intergovernmental organizations through a treaty or any other type of agreement which acts a charter in the creation of a group. The primary purpose of these organizations is creating a mechanism for the global populations to work together successfully in areas of security, peace and also to deal with social and economic problems[2].
Over the years, many NGOs and IGOs around the world have dedicated their efforts; thus in the protection of human rights while also ending human rights abuses, one of history’s oldest and most effective NGOs is Anti-Slavery International which backed by strong public advocacy, has managed to secure major reforms in the issue of slavery.
Background of the Actor (Anti-Slavery International)
The Anti-slavery International is not only an international non-governmental organization but also a lobby group, as well as a registered charity, headquartered in the UK. The non-governmental organization was founded in the 1839 consequently, it is considered to be one of the international organizations dealing with human rights[3]. For decades, the Anti-slavery International has emerged as the only charity organization operating in the United Kingdom that has worked to advocate against slavery exclusively inclusive of other related abuses.
Generally, the Anti-slavery International non-governmental organization owes its origins; thus to the radical element to the Anti-slavery society termed as the “Agency Committee of the Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Dominions", which managed to achieve the abolition of slavery; thus in the British Empire. A successor organization established was the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society before being re-launched as the “Anti-Slavery International” which generally works in an effort to combat slavery and other abuses present today[4].
In the contemporary world, Anti-Slavery International organization, exists as the most prominent organization in the continuing global fight; thus against all forms of slavery which ranges from human trafficking, forced labor, exploitative and harsh child forced labor, slavery by descent, as well as forced marriage, and other slavery-like practices such as exploitation of immigrant workers forced to work in conditions which to a great extent amount to slavery[5]. The non-governmental organization pursues what can be termed as a multi-faceted strategy of investigation which involves support for all grassroots organizations in different affected areas, creation/raising of public awareness, as well as advocating for effective legal frameworks; this approach to a great extent has enabled to organization to achieve real change; thus over the decades.
Impacts/Achievements
In its efforts advancing for change, the Anti-Slavery International over the years has managed to produce real change, concerning this, throughout the 20th and 21st
centuries, the non-governmental organization has been involved in numerous successful campaigns. Some of the notable impacts/achievements during the 19th
century include the fact that it convened what is considered as the world’s first anti-slavery convention which was held in 1840 in London[6].
Anti-Slavery International also aided in the establishment of the Brussels considered to be the world’s first comprehensive anti-slavery treaty. During the 20th
century major impacts of the non-governmental organization included a successful campaign against slavery practices which were perpetrated by King Leopold II of Belgium while in Congo Free State which aided in ending his tyrannical rule. The organization also aided in ending the use of slaves in the production of labor in the Peruvian Amazon Company.
Bibliography
Foundation Centre. “What is an NGO? What role does it play in civil society?”. Grant Space, (2018). Accessed 30th
December, 2018: https://grantspace.org/resources/knowledge-base/ngo-definition-and-role/
Harvard Law School. “Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)”. Harvard Law School, (2018). Accessed 30th
December, 2018; https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/opia/what-is-public-interest-law/public-service-practice-settings/public-international-law/intergovernmental-organizations-igos/
The Global Journal. “Anti-Slavery International”. The Global Journal, (2012). Accessed 30th December, 2018. http://www.theglobaljournal.net/article/view/561/
Kraeger P. Anti-Slavery International. In: Anheier H.K., Toepler S. (eds) International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, New York, NY. (2010).
Anti-Slavery International. “Our history”. Anti-Slavery International. (2018). Accessed 30th
December, 2018. https://www.antislavery.org/about-us/history/
[1] Foundation Centre. “What is an NGO? What role does it play in civil society?”. Grant Space,
(2018). Retrieved from; https://grantspace.org/resources/knowledge-base/ngo-definition-and-role/
[2] Harvard Law School. “Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)”. Harvard Law School, (2018). Retrieved from; https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/opia/what-is-public-interest-law/public-service-practice-settings/public-international-law/intergovernmental-organizations-igos/
[3] The Global Journal. “Anti-Slavery International”. The Global Journal, (2012). Retrieved from; http://www.theglobaljournal.net/article/view/561/
[4] Kraeger P. Anti-Slavery International. In: Anheier H.K., Toepler S. (eds) International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, New York, NY. (2010).
[5] Anti-Slavery International. “Our history”. Anti-Slavery International. (2018). Accessed 30th
December, 2018. https://www.antislavery.org/about-us/history/
[6] Ibid
