. Observer status is granted by a
. The status of a Permanent Observer is based purely on practice, and there are no provisions for it in the
meetings, participate in procedural votes, and to sponsor and sign resolutions, but not to vote on
and other substantive matters. Various other rights (e.g. to speak in debates, to submit proposals and amendments, the right of reply, to raise points of order and to circulate documents, etc.) are given selectively to some observers only. So far, the EU is the only international organisation to hold these enhanced powers.
There is a distinction between state and non-state observers. Non-Member States of the United Nations, which are members of one or more
, can apply for the status of Permanent Observer state. The non-state observers are the international organizations and other entities.
Non-member observer states are arranged for seating in the General Assembly Hall immediately after the Member States and before the other observers.
states, and are free to submit a petition to join as a full member at their discretion. For example,
was a permanent observer state from 1948 to 2002, until becoming a full member on September 10, 2002. Currently, the only such state, the
, is described as a "Non-member State having received a standing invitation to participate as observer in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and maintaining permanent observer mission at Headquarters".
Sixteen former non-member states were also granted observer status. Fourteen of those states eventually became members of the United Nations. The other two,
s and others with various degrees of statehood or sovereignty), are invited to become observers at the General Assembly. Some of them maintain a permanent office in the United Nations headquarters in
, while others do not; however, this is the choice of the organization and does not imply differences in their status.
is arranged for seating in the General Assembly Hall immediately after non-member States and before the other observers.
| Organization |
Date observer status was granted |
| African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States is a group of countries , created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. The group's main objectives are sustainable development and poverty reduction within its member states, as well as their greater integration into the world's economy...
|
October 15, 1981 (A/RES/36/4) |
| African Development Bank The African Development Bank Group is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa...
|
October 28, 1987 (A/RES/42/10) |
African UnionThe African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
(formerly the Organisation of African Unity) |
October 11, 1965 (A/RES/2011(XX))
15 August 2002 (General Assembly decision 56/475) |
| Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean The Treaty of Tlatelolco is the conventional name given to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean...
|
October 17, 1988 (A/RES/43/6) |
Andean Community of NationsThe Andean Community is a customs union comprising the South American countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The trade bloc was called the Andean Pact until 1996 and came into existence with the signing of the Cartagena Agreement in 1969...
|
October 22, 1997 (A/RES/52/6) |
| Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization The Asian–African Legal Consultative Organization is an international governmental organization formed in 1956, initially to serve as an advisory board to member states on matters on international law. It was an outgrowth of the Bandung Conference, held in Indonesia during April, 1955, which led...
(formerly the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee) |
October 13, 1980 |
| Asian Development Bank The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
|
November 19, 2002 (A/RES/57/30) |
Association of Caribbean StatesThe Association of Caribbean States was formed with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean. It comprises twenty-five member states and four associate members...
|
October 15, 1998 (A/RES/53/17) |
Association of Southeast Asian NationsThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
|
December 4, 2006 (A/RES/61/44) |
| Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization |
October 8, 1999 (A/RES/54/5) |
Caribbean CommunityThe Caribbean Community is an organisation of 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies. CARICOM's main purposes are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy...
|
October 17, 1991 (A/RES/46/8) |
Central American Integration SystemCentral American Integration System is the economic, cultural and political organization of Central American states since February 1, 1993. It was on December 13, 1991, however, when all the countries of the ODECA signed the Protocol of Tegucigalpa which extended the earlier cooperation in search...
|
October 19, 1995 (A/RES/50/2) |
Collective Security Treaty OrganizationThe Collective Security Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance which was signed on 15 May 1992. On 7 October 2002, the Presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed a charter in Tashkent founding the CSTO.Nikolai Bordyuzha was appointed...
|
December 2, 2004 (A/RES/59/50) |
| Common Fund for Commodities The Common Fund for Commodities is an inter-governmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations. It is a vestige of the proposed New International Economic Order.-External links:*...
|
November 23, 2005 (A/RES/60/26) |
Commonwealth of Independent StatesThe Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
|
March 24, 1994 (A/RES/48/237) |
| Commonwealth Secretariat The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
|
October 18, 1976 (A/RES/31/3) |
| Community of Portuguese Language Countries |
October 26, 1999 (A/RES/54/10) |
| Community of Sahelo-Saharan States |
December 12, 2001 (A/RES/56/92) |
| Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia is an inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia...
|
December 6, 2007 (A/RES/62/77) |
Council of EuropeThe Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
|
October 17, 1989 (A/RES/44/6) |
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the GulfThe Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council , is a political and economic union of the Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf and constituting the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates...
|
December 6, 2007 (A/RES/62/78) |
East African CommunityThe East African Community is an intergovernmental organisation comprising the five east African countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Pierre Nkurunziza, the President of the Republic of Burundi, is the current Chairman of the East African Community. The EAC was originally...
|
December 9, 2003 (A/RES/58/86) |
| Economic Community of Central African States The Economic Community of Central African States is an Economic Community of the African Union for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa...
|
December 12, 2000 (A/RES/55/161) |
Economic Community of West African StatesThe Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
|
December 2, 2004 (A/RES/59/51) |
Economic Cooperation OrganizationThe Economic Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental organization involving seven Asian and three Eurasian nations, part of the South-central Asian Union. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade, and investment opportunities. The ECO is an ad hoc...
|
October 13, 1993 (A/RES/48/2) |
| Eurasian Economic Community The Eurasian Economic Community originated from the Commonwealth of Independent States customs union between Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan on 29 March 1996...
|
December 9, 2003 (A/RES/58/84) |
| Energy Charter Conference |
December 6, 2007 (A/RES/62/75) |
| Eurasian Development Bank Eurasian Development Bank is an international financial organization founded by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2006.-Mission:...
|
December 6, 2007 (A/RES/62/76) |
GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic DevelopmentThe GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova....
|
December 9, 2003 (A/RES/58/85) |
| Hague Conference on Private International Law The Hague Conference on Private International Law is the preeminent organisation in the area of private international law....
|
November 23, 2005 (A/RES/60/27) |
| Ibero-American Conference |
November 23, 2005 (A/RES/60/28) |
| Indian Ocean Commission The Indian Ocean Commission , known as the Commission de l'Océan Indien in French, is an intergovernmental organization that joins Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, France , and the Seychelles together to encourage cooperation. It was started in January 1984 under the General Victoria Agreement...
|
December 4, 2006 (A/RES/61/43) |
| Inter-American Development Bank The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
|
December 12, 2000 (A/RES/55/160) |
| International Centre for Migration Policy Development The International Centre for Migration Policy Development was established by Austria and Switzerland in 1993 and has since grown to 14 member states...
|
November 19, 2002 (A/RES/57/31) |
| International Conference on the Great Lakes Region of Africa |
December 16, 2009 (A/RES/64/123) |
International Criminal Police OrganizationInterpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
(Interpol) |
October 15, 1996 (A/RES/51/1) |
| International Development Law Institute |
December 12, 2001 (A/RES/56/90) |
| International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea |
December 11, 2008 (A/RES/63/133) |
International Hydrographic OrganizationThe International Hydrographic Organization is the inter-governmental organisation representing the hydrographic community. It enjoys observer status at the UN and is the recognised competent authority on hydrographic surveying and nautical charting...
|
December 12, 2001 (A/RES/56/91) |
| International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance is an international organization based in Stockholm. Its task is to support democracy around the world.- Aims :...
|
December 9, 2003 (A/RES/58/83) |
| International Organization for Migration The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration to help resettle people displaced by World War II....
|
October 16, 1992 (A/RES/47/4) |
International Organization of la Francophonie [Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique]The Agence de coopération culturelle et technique was founded in 1970 and was the precursor to what is now the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie....
became observer in 1978 and its observer status was transferred to its successor, the International Organization of la Francophonie in 1998. |
November 10, 1978 (A/RES/33/18)
December 18, 1998 (General Assembly decision 53/453) |
| International Seabed Authority The International Seabed Authority is an intergovernmental body based in Kingston, Jamaica, that was established to organize and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, an area underlying most of the world’s oceans...
|
October 24, 1996 (A/RES/51/6) |
| International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an intergovernmental organization created by the mandate of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. It was established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed at Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December 10, 1982...
|
December 17, 1996 (A/RES/51/204) |
| International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (or the World Conservation Union) |
December 17, 1999 (A/RES/54/195) |
| Islamic Development Bank Group |
March 28, 2007 (A/RES/61/259) |
| Italian-Latin American Institute |
December 6, 2007 (A/RES/62/74) |
| Latin American Economic System The Latin American and the Caribbean Economic System, officially known as Sistema Económico Latinoamericano y del Caribe , is an organization founded in 1975 to promote economic cooperation and social development between Latin American and the Caribbean countries...
(SELA) |
October 13, 1980 (A/RES/35/3) |
Latin American Integration AssociationThe Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración is a Latin American trade integration association, based in Montevideo. Its main objective is the establishment of a common market, in pursuit of the economic and social development of the region...
|
November 23, 2005 (A/RES/60/25) |
| Latin American Parliament The Latin American Parliament , is a regional, permanent organization composed by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a consultative assembly similar to the early European Parliament...
|
October 13, 1993 (A/RES/48/4) |
| League of Arab States |
November 1, 1950 (A/RES/477 (V)) |
OPEC Fund for International DevelopmentThe OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976 by the Member Countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries...
|
December 4, 2006 (A/RES/61/42) |
| Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development |
October 15, 1998 (A/RES/53/6) |
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean StatesThe Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States , created in 1981, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance between countries and dependencies in the Eastern Caribbean...
|
December 2, 2004 (A/RES/59/52) |
| Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe |
October 13, 1993 (A/RES/48/5) |
| Organization of American States The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
|
October 16, 1948 (A/RES/253 (III)) |
| Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference) |
October 10, 1975 (A/RES/3369 (XXX)) |
Pacific Islands ForumThe Pacific Islands Forum is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum...
|
October 17, 1994 (A/RES/49/1) |
| Partners in Population and Development The Partners in Population and Development is an intergovernmental alliance of twenty-four 'developing' countries. They hold a permanent observer seat in the United Nations General Assembly. They have an Africa Regional Office in Kampala, Uganda and a China Country Office...
|
November 19, 2002 (A/RES/57/29) |
| Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean |
December 16, 2009 (A/RES/64/124) |
| Permanent Court of Arbitration The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
|
October 13, 1993 (A/RES/48/3) |
| Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States |
December 6, 2007 (A/RES/62/73) |
| Shanghai Cooperation Organisation |
December 2, 2004 (A/RES/59/48) |
| South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is an organisation of South Asian nations, founded in December 1985 by Ziaur Rahman and dedicated to economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasising collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh,...
|
December 2, 2004 (A/RES/59/53) |
Southern African Development CommunityThe Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
|
December 2, 2004 (A/RES/59/49) |
| South Centre South Centre is an intergovernmental organization of developing countries, established by an intergovernmental Agreement , which came into force on 31 July 1995, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland...
|
December 11, 2008 (A/RES/63/131) |
| The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is an international financing organization that aims to "[a]ttract and disburse additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria." A public–private partnership, the organization has its secretariat in Geneva,...
|
December 16, 2009 (A/RES/64/122) |
University for PeaceThe University for Peace was established in Costa Rica in 1980 "to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence."At present, the UPEACE Costa...
|
December 11, 2008 (A/RES/63/132) |
| World Customs Organization The World Customs Organization is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. With its worldwide membership, the WCO is recognized as the voice of the global customs community...
(formerly the Customs Cooperation Council) |
March 23, 1999 (A/RES/53/216) |
| Organization or entity |
Date observer status was granted |
Entity type |
International Committee of the Red CrossThe International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
|
October 16, 1990 (A/RES/45/6) |
private Swiss association with some special privileges and legal immunities -Medicine:* Immunity , resistance of an organism to infection or disease.* Immunity , a scientific journal published by Cell Press-Law:*Amnesty law, immunity from past crimes...
equating to defacto sovereignty.[The ICRC is private association registered in Switzerland]Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, that is enjoying various degrees of special privileges and legal immunities-Medicine:* Immunity , resistance of an organism to infection or disease.* Immunity , a scientific journal published by Cell Press-Law:*Amnesty law, immunity from past crimes...
in many countries and in cases like SwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
these are considered to constitute a de facto sovereigntySovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
.
Entrusted responsibilities under the Geneva ConventionsThe Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
. |
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 186 distinct National Societies...
|
October 19, 1994 (A/RES/49/2) |
federation -Use in political science:*Federation, a state governed under the system of federalism**Federated school, a model of governance used by some educational institutions which is also analogous to a political federation...
of national societies |
| International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission |
December 16, 2009 (A/RES/64/121) |
commission with impartial members.
Entrusted responsibilities under the Geneva ConventionsThe Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
. |
| Inter-Parliamentary Union |
November 19, 2002 (A/RES/57/32) |
organization An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
of national parliaments |
International Criminal CourtThe International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
|
September 13, 2004 (A/RES/58/318) |
international courtInternational courts are formed by treaties between nations, or under the authority of an international organization such as the United Nations — this includes ad hoc tribunals and permanent institutions, but excludes any courts arising purely under national authority.Early examples of...
|
International Olympic CommitteeThe International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
|
October 20, 2009 (A/RES/64/3) |
sports federation of national committeesNational Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
|
| Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta |
August 24, 1994 (A/RES/48/265) |
a sovereign A sovereign is the supreme lawmaking authority within its jurisdiction.Sovereign may also refer to:*Monarch, the sovereign of a monarchy*Sovereign Bank, banking institution in the United States*Sovereign...
entity not claiming statehoodA sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
|
While the EU is an observer, it is party to some 50 international UN agreements as the only non-state participant. It is a full participant on the
. It has also been a
at certain UN summits, such as the Rio and Kyoto summits on climate change, including hosting a summit. Furthermore, the EU delegation maintains close relations with the UN's aid bodies. In 2011 the EU was granted enhanced powers in the General Assembly; the right to speak in debates, to submit proposals and amendments, the right of reply, to raise points of order and to circulate documents. These rights were also made open to other international organizations who requested them.