The Impact of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Implementation of International Human Rights Law: A Case Study of North-East Nigeria

Human Rights NGOS have emerged as important players in the process of implementing human rights laws in Nigeria. The proliferation of Human rights NGOs raises questions about their legitimacy in the drive to ensuring the implementation of human rights laws, it has also invited scepticism about the ability of the state to protect its citizens. In recent years, human rights NGOs in Nigeria are seen at the forefront of representing individuals who are classified as victims of human rights violations, they are clamouring for better policies that protect and promote human rights and human dignity through activities such as negotiation and mediation, advocacy, campaigns, naming and shaming. This thesis aims at analysing the impact of human rights NGOs from the liberal perspective and provides answers to the following questions; What Problems Do NGOs Encounter in The Process of Protecting Human Rights in Nigeria? How Do Human Rights NGOs Help Protect and Promote Human Rights? What Role Do NGOs Play in Protecting Human Rights in Northeast Nigeria? How do NGOs Negotiate and Mediate on behalf of citizens of Nigeria? Analysis has shown that human rights NGOs influence the implementation of human rights laws in Nigeria and they have made tremendous impact. This impacts depends on the roles they play in the state, their mode of operation and the relationship between them, the state and the citizens which has been demonstrated in the thesis, therefore a tentative conclusion can be drawn that NGOs are making impact in the implementation of human rights laws in Nigeria. Keywords: Nigeria, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Human Rights, Impact.