Effects of regulatory mechanisms on the function of human rights NGOs

The promotion and protection of human rights is not a mission that can be achieved by a single entity. It takes a collaborative effort and synergy of powers. The role played by NGOs, working in the field of human rights, in complimenting this effort can neither be undermined nor ignored. In fact, they have been and continue to be at the forefront of each battle fought to uphold the protection of human rights both at the international and the national level. However, recently their role is being threatened and undermined by regulatory mechanisms put in place by governments. An increasing number of governments are adopting legislations, under the disguise of fostering and regulating the not-for-profit sector, aimed at stifling the work of NGOs functioning in the field of human rights, democratization and good governance. This book is a very humble attempt to give insight to incapacitating regulatory mechanisms and their effect on the function of NGOs based on international human rights standards and supported by a comparative case study of laws regulating NGOs in Ethiopia and Ghana.