The exploitation of women and children in society has been an alarming issue for the past decade. Women and children are being subjected to brutality by their male counterparts. Such an impeccable issue has proved futile, and the international NGOs are addressing the matter (Egyesult, 2007). Children are sexually harassed, sodomized, and are deprived of their rights as stipulated in the Children’s Act. Research has shown that these inhumane acts are practiced mainly in less-developed countries. Women are not immune to these brutal acts. Domestic violence has taken the center stage in exploiting women. Women have been killed by their husbands, maimed, and others have been subjected to lifetime disability. The NGOs are addressing these issues. They are educating the victims on their rights, and the steps/actions to be followed when exploited.
The current initiative of ending the exploitation of women and children has been perceived positively across the continent. Most of the political and religious leaders have spearheaded campaigning against gender-based exploitation. However, stringent constitutional measures have not been undertaken to punish those individuals who are involved in these exploitations. Indeed, from the current awareness campaign, it is probable that in the near future exploitation of women and children would be outdated. Both women and children would have known their rights. The United Nations is taking its campaigns to remote areas (United Nations, 2001).
NGO leaders need to focus on regions that are adversely affected by gender-based discrimination and exploitation. The global financial crisis that the society faces implies that the NGO needs to select the region in which it is prone to exploitation (Siegel & Welsh, 2010). This will enhance adequate planning and equal distribution of resources and personnel to the affected areas.
NGO’s main objective has been to create awareness of the policies and regulations that are against the public’s interest. Such education campaigns have resulted in mobilizing the public to air their grievances in order to protect their interest. In realizing this strategy, NGOs and the government have worked together in achieving this common goal. In the United States, four distinct features depict the NGO-Government relationship—confrontation, cooperation, co-optation and complementary.
The policies and laws implemented by the United States government should be in accordance with the rules stipulated by the NGOs. In enacting laws, the government should not discriminate or exploit the minority in society. The government’s interest should intertwine with the interest of the NGOs (Lewis, 2006). As highlighted above, the US government has imposed stringent measures on individuals who commit atrocities, as it prejudices human rights. In the case where the policies implemented by the government are against the rights of individuals, the NGO-Government relationship will be bizarre. There will be a confrontation between the NGO leaders and the government leaders. For instance, in the al-Qaeda war, the non-governmental institutions were against the government’s strategy of deploying military personnel to Iraq. They wanted the government to withdraw from the operation, as it was perceived to be against human rights.
In the current society, the majority of NGOs have sprouted, and the financial support has proved challenging. Most of the NGOs have co-opted with the government, and they are financed by the government institution. As such, they have violated the rule of ‘independence’ of the NGO. They are performing their duties in the interest of the government. In a complementary relationship, the government and NGOs have harmonized their objectives and goals in order to realize the interest of the public. For instance, in mitigating discrimination, the government has joined hands with the NGOs by educating the society on their rights (Nauta, 2004).
There has been a vital collaboration between traditional NGOs and the business sector in the United States. Although attitudes on NGO’s involvement in business activities are changing, these changes are slow. The demise of socialism and changes within the NGO community’s perception of its role in the region as a whole has played a positive part in improving relations between businesses and NGOs. Nonetheless, asymmetries of information, lack of knowledge of one another, prejudices persist and continue to undermine the potential of collaboration. This is particularly serious given both the widespread reluctance of business in developing its own ability to act as a social agent. Very often, NGOs are able to act as bridges between the state and business sector, as well as between business and the local communities it is seeking to assist (Vedder, 2007). Contrary, NGOs are characterized by relative weakness in comparison with the business sector and state, both in resources and degree of institutional development; therefore, impedes them from competing with the other sectors.
In conclusion, the NGOs should be encouraged to undertake their activities, and maximum support by the government should be accorded to these organizations. Unlike political leaders and government organizations, NGOs vest their interest on the well-being of society. It ensures that the ‘forgotten’ communities/society access adequate resources. Political leaders should not interfere with the NGO’s interests. The US government should implement legislation that protects the NGOs from political bigwigs; therefore, enhancing their independence in society.
References
Egyesult, A. (2007). Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007. New York: Government Printing Office.
Siegel, J. & Welsh, B. (2010). Juvenile Delinquency: The Core. New York: Cengage Learning.
United Nations (2001). Good practices in combating sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and youth. New York: United Nations Publications.
Lewis, D. (2006). The management of non-governmental developmental organizations. London: Taylor & Francis.
Nauta, W. (2004). The implications of freedon: the changing role of land sector NGOs. London: Routledge.
Vedder, A. (2007). NGO involvement in international governance and policy: sources of legitimacy. New York City: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.