International OrganizationsInternational Organizations

International OrganizationsInternational Organizations

Two types:Two types:• Intergovernmental (IGO)Intergovernmental (IGO)

– Able to enact “supranational law”, which is legal Able to enact “supranational law”, which is legal control, derived from either a treaty or exerted control, derived from either a treaty or exerted by an IGO, which nations agree be bound by in by an IGO, which nations agree be bound by in addition to their own domestic lawsaddition to their own domestic laws

• Non-governmental (NGO)Non-governmental (NGO)– No international legal authority, can only No international legal authority, can only

provide persuasive recommendationsprovide persuasive recommendations

Intergovernmental Orgs (IGOs)Intergovernmental Orgs (IGOs) An IGO An IGO

1.1. has international legal status (privileges, has international legal status (privileges, immunities, rights, and duties) that is immunities, rights, and duties) that is based upon its founding charter, based upon its founding charter, constitution or statutes. As such, an IGO constitution or statutes. As such, an IGO can enter into agreements with other can enter into agreements with other IGOs or independent statesIGOs or independent states

2.2. has a legislative body that creates legal has a legislative body that creates legal acts (decisions, resolutions, directives, acts (decisions, resolutions, directives, etc.) that may bind the IGO and its etc.) that may bind the IGO and its member states under international law. member states under international law. Most of these legislative acts do not Most of these legislative acts do not supersede national lawsupersede national law

IGOs cont’dIGOs cont’d

3.3. may have a dispute resolution may have a dispute resolution mechanism or body that is empowered to mechanism or body that is empowered to resolve disputes among its member resolve disputes among its member statesstates

4.4. may have an executive body that may have an executive body that facilitates the operations of the IGOfacilitates the operations of the IGO

IGOsIGOs

IGO publications are often found in both IGO publications are often found in both official print reporters and through the official print reporters and through the organization’s websiteorganization’s website• IGOs disseminate materials that qualify as IGOs disseminate materials that qualify as

primary sources, such as research findings, primary sources, such as research findings, statistics/data sets, project reports, news statistics/data sets, project reports, news items, and policy statementsitems, and policy statements

• good sources of comparative information good sources of comparative information between individual countriesbetween individual countries

The UN—an IGO?The UN—an IGO?

Legal StatusLegal Status• UN CharterUN Charter

Legislative bodyLegislative body• General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

Dispute Resolution MechanismDispute Resolution Mechanism• ICJ/Security CouncilICJ/Security Council

Executive bodyExecutive body• Secretariat (Secretary General)Secretariat (Secretary General)

IMF, World Bank, IBRD, IFC, etc.IMF, World Bank, IBRD, IFC, etc. Economic IGOs established at the Economic IGOs established at the

Bretton Woods conference in 1945Bretton Woods conference in 1945 Do not generally produce “hard law” but Do not generally produce “hard law” but

can be very useful sites if you are can be very useful sites if you are working in either development, human working in either development, human rights, or international financerights, or international finance

IMF’s Selected Decisions and IMF’s Selected Decisions and DocumentsDocuments• http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sd/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sd/

index.aspindex.asp

Exercise #1Exercise #1

Locate the IMF’s Articles of Agreement Locate the IMF’s Articles of Agreement in a US treaty sourcein a US treaty source

Does the IMF meet the 4 requirements Does the IMF meet the 4 requirements of an intergovernmental organization?of an intergovernmental organization?

Nongovernmental Orgs (NGOs)Nongovernmental Orgs (NGOs) NGOs:NGOs:

• Organizations that operate INDEPENDENT of states Organizations that operate INDEPENDENT of states • not endowed with any international legal powers not endowed with any international legal powers • are persuasive groups, and may have “consultative” are persuasive groups, and may have “consultative”

status with larger IGOs.status with larger IGOs.• often refered to internationally as “civil society often refered to internationally as “civil society

organizations”organizations” NGO publications often constitute “grey NGO publications often constitute “grey

literature”—not usually available through literature”—not usually available through traditional sources so internet may be best way to traditional sources so internet may be best way to access themaccess them• These documents often DO NOT COME UP IN These documents often DO NOT COME UP IN

GOOGLE SEARCHES! Careful research requires GOOGLE SEARCHES! Careful research requires you to actually browse the websites themselvesyou to actually browse the websites themselves

Locating NGOsLocating NGOs

To locate relevant NGOs in a particular To locate relevant NGOs in a particular area, try the advanced search feature of area, try the advanced search feature of the UN’s NGO branch database of civil the UN’s NGO branch database of civil society partnershipssociety partnerships• http://esango.un.org/civilsocietyhttp://esango.un.org/civilsociety

Benefit of this database over Google is Benefit of this database over Google is that all listed organizations are registered that all listed organizations are registered with the UN, therefore adds legitimacy to with the UN, therefore adds legitimacy to their organization—however, be aware this their organization—however, be aware this database only contains info from groups database only contains info from groups “approved” by the UN“approved” by the UN

Locating NGO “grey literature”Locating NGO “grey literature”

Locate relevant NGOs for your topic and Locate relevant NGOs for your topic and identify their websiteidentify their website

On their website, look for a link to On their website, look for a link to something like the following:something like the following:• PublicationsPublications• LibraryLibrary• DocumentsDocuments• Legal InformationLegal Information

If available, use search tools to limit to your If available, use search tools to limit to your country or topic; avoid full text searching country or topic; avoid full text searching wherever possible!!!wherever possible!!!

On the Amnesty site, select “Library”

and then use the Advanced Search feature to limit by country, topic, etc

On Human Rights Watch, select “Publications” and then utilize drop down menus for

Issue and Country