NGO's give Taiwan vital world role

Lung-chu Chen

On 20 July, the New Century Foundation (新世紀文教基金會) and the Asia Pacific Public Affairs Forum (亞太公共事務論壇) jointly hosted the "Conference on Taiwanese Non-Government Organizations (NGOs, 非政府組織) Moving toward the 21st Century."

The conference discussed the development of NGOs under worldwide management and possible roles and strategies for Taiwanese NGOs in the international community. Delegates also focused on areas such as humanitarian and disaster relief, the promotion of international environmental protection work, the role of business, the protection of human rights and international health and medical treatment.

Altogether, 30 groups participated in the event, debating Taiwan's past experiences and future prospects in the hope of strengthening mutual understanding, connections and integration among Taiwan's NGOs, as well as consolidating the power of grassroots organizations, and assisting in the promotion of "popular diplomacy"(全民外交).

The elevation of Taiwan's international status is the common hope, demand and expectation of the Taiwanese people. In his May 20 inaugural address, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) stressed the importance of more robust participation in activities sponsored by multinational NGOs.

In accordance with a worldwide increase in democratic power and the gradual expansion of civil society, non-governmental groups have become increasingly significant. The ability of such groups to collaborate on an international scale has, moreover, increased considerably.

Able to accomplish many things that governmental organizations cannot, NGOs advance international cooperation and peace. The Nobel Peace Prize for example, was given to Medecins Sans Frontieres in 1999, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in 1997 and back in 1977, to Amnesty International.

The age in which NGOs kept a low profile has passed. They sponsor activities that have become a fundamental part of public life worldwide. Currently, there are more than 50,000 international organizations in the world. Of this group, approximately 87 percent are NGOs and about 13 percent are inter-governmental organizations. The speed with which NGOs have grown is truly startling.

NGOs differ widely, not only in terms of membership credentials and numbers, but also with regard to their structure, geographical range, resources, strategy and overall effectiveness. In each of the above-mentioned areas, NGOs display features of gradual multi-nationalization. And their role, as laid down in international policy making, has gradually grown.

Areas previously considered to be the responsibility of states, for example public services like education, provision and health care, have gradually come to be shouldered by non-governmental organizations. Amid such a developmental trend, these groups collectively possess more resources than even the UN, able to provide both development and emergency relief services. The areas with which NGOs concern themselves include: the advancement of democracy, protection of human rights, cultural exchange, news and information dissemination, health and medical treatment, environmental protection, economic and trade investment, technological exchange, international labor, humanitarian relief aid, protection for refugees, religious exchanges and more.

In recent years, NGOs have had an astonishing affect on policy-making. NGO-sponsored activities have reached every part of the globe and, moreover, have made use of all media in pursuit of their goals. Because of the information revolution, their operations have not been confined within national borders. Many have even been given consultant status by the UN (especially in the Economic and Social Council) and/or in other inter-governmental, international organizations such as the International Labor Organization, UNESCO and WHO.

NGOs can exert influence in all aspects of policy making. They can adopt viewpoints that government officials either cannot, or are unwilling to, adopt. They often represent minorities or speak on behalf of disadvantaged groups threatened by states.

Some groups, like Amnesty, can utilize a two-pronged strategy: on the one hand cooperating directly with the UN network, on the other hand, maintaining their independence and publicly criticizing the UN whenever they see fit. NGOs have been very successful in exposing social injustices, and, in certain countries, they've even assumed the function of a "substitute opposition party." As a result, they have become a thorn in the side of numerous governments, sometimes even becoming an target of governmental repression.

NGOs are especially important to Taiwan, providing it with a potential international stage. As Taiwan is bullied by China, and rejected by governmental international organizations, it should strengthen its understanding, participation, and interaction with regard to NGOs. In the areas of human rights, environmental protection, health and medical treatment, and humanitarian disaster relief, for example, there's ample room for action.

By participating in these kinds of activities, Taiwan can fulfill its responsibility as a citizen of the global village and establish connections worldwide. Moreover, the more people participate in international NGO activities, the more "internationalized" workers can be trained. This will serve to elevate Taiwan's international perspective and help the country to act more aggressively on the international stage, effectively developing "diplomacy by all the people."

The July conference was a good beginning. Let's hope it will be followed up with robust action that unites popular and governmental power, and advances Taiwan's NGOs in the new century. Let's struggle together to raise the international standing of our island country!

Chen Lung-chu is founder and chairman of the Chen Lung-chu New Century Foundation (陳隆志新世紀文教基金會).