Japan // Observer State
Japan was granted observer status on 20 November 1996, according to the Resolution (96) 37.
What is observer status?
The Council of Europe and non-member states
Apart from its 46 member States, the Council of Europe has close links with numerous non-member states, five of which have observer status with the organisation: the Holy See (1970), the United States of America, Canada and Japan (1996) and Mexico (1999).
The Council's relations with non-member states across the world enable it extend its activities and its reach to all corners of the globe. More than 45 non-member states are parties to Council of Europe conventions, or associated with it as members or observers of or participants in partial agreements such as the Venice Commission and the North-South Centre. More and more of the Council of Europe's legal instruments are drawn up in consultation with interested non-member states.
Council of Europe observer status
Non-European countries have the opportunity to co-operate with the Council, to accept its guiding principles of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and to send observers to its expert committees and conferences of specialised ministers. Since September 2006, observer states have also been entitled to send representatives to observe the regular meetings of the Council's Ministers' Deputies, and to appoint permanent observers to the Council of Europe. Observer status is governed by Statutory Resolution (93) 26, adopted by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on 14 May 1993.
Statutory Resolution (93) 26 of the Committee of Ministers
Invitation to observer states to participate in the regular meetings of the Ministers' Deputies
Criteria for the granting of observer status
Website of the Council of Europe's external relations
Observer status within the Parliamentary Assembly
The national parliaments of Israel (1957), Canada (1997) and Mexico (1999) send observers to the Assembly. Members of observer delegations may sit in the Assembly but without the right to vote. They have the right to speak with the authorisation of the President of the Assembly.
The Israeli Knesset was granted this status in 1957 on an ad hoc basis, even before its official adoption by the Assembly in 1961. The parliaments of Canada (in 1997) and Mexico (in 1999) were awarded this status under rule 60 of the Assembly's Rules of Procedure.
Japan and the Council of Europe
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
The "Council of Local Authorities for international relations" of Japan was granted observer status with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in March 1995.
Council of Europe committees
Steering Committees and ad hoc Committees where Japan participates (Page 26)
Council of Europe Treaties
Treaties ratified and/or signed by Japan
Partial Agreements
Partial Agreements of which Japan is a member / an observer.