Non-State Actors: The Increasing Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Global Health Law

The participation of non-state actors in global health law has undergone tremendous change over the years, with non-state actors playing an increasingly important role in the formation of global health law - in terms of engagement in international health governance forums and health policy decision processes. Global health movements and advocacy groups dedicated to specific diseases (for instance HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) and health rights have been increasingly pivotal in ensuring that global health policies are rights-based. This article interrogates the role that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have played in shaping global health law. Looking at how the historical and traditional roles of NGOs have evolved over time, this article analyzes the contribution that NGOs have made in advancing and defining a rights-based approach to health.