Lack of international legal provision for nongovernmental organizations

NGOs and INGOs have no legal status within the framework of international law. They are therefore not recognized as having any international 'existence' in a legal sense, with the consequence that any governmental or scholarly attention which depends on such recognition is absent. The absence of such legislation ensures the INGOs are unprotected (as 'outlaws') and do not operate within anything but a self-imposed code of responsibilities. Their activities are not aided by facilitative arrangements, as is the case with the international activities of commercial enterprises. The absence of such legislation deprives national governments of any stimulus to generate national legislation to accommodate INGOs based in a particular country. Since they are not recognized internationally, some countries view with great suspicion the participation of their nationals or national groups as members of such bodies. There is also suspicion concerning the (field-level) programmes of such INGOs in a particular country, which may be construed as interference in internal affairs or as a cover for politically subversive activity.