Switzerland joined the Council of Europe in 1963 after extensive and heated discussions about the subject of neutrality.
Ever since then, the country has been an active participant at all levels of the organisation.
Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter projected a specially designed light-show onto the Palais de l’Europe on the eve of 18. November 2009, when Switzerland started its six months turn chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Purpose: Promoting Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law
Entity: Intergovernmental Organisation
Founding year: 1949
Member states: 46
Based in: Strassburg/France
Working languages: EN, FR
Secretary General: Alain Berset
Decision-making body: Committee of Ministers (=Foreign ministers of the member states)
Consultative bodies: Parliamentary Assembly; Congress of Local and Regional Authorities; Conference of INGOs; Commissioner for Human Rights
Main legal instrument: European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)
Legal basis: European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) plus more than 200 Conventions, Additional Protocols and Partial Agreements
Ordinary annual budget: € 385mio
(of which Court: € 85 mio)
