Council of Europe

The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, was founded in 1949 and is Europe's oldest intergovernmental organisation with the largest number of member states. Its core mission is to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law in its member states and throughout the world by means of conventions that third countries can join. It currently has 46 member states.

To date, Switzerland has ratified over half of the more than 200 Council of Europe conventions. The conventions serve as a basis for legislative amendments and harmonisation in its member states.

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is one of the Council of Europe's most important conventions and flagship achievements. Signed by all the member states, the ECHR gives every Swiss citizen – and all citizens of the states parties – the right to bring a case before the European Court of Human Rights in the event of a violation of the rights or guarantees set out in the convention, provided that all domestic remedies have been exhausted.

The Council of Europe comprises the following bodies:

• The Committee of Ministers comprising the ministers of foreign affairs of the 46 member states
• The Parliamentary Assembly, whose members are appointed by the national parliaments
• The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, which is composed of representatives of the local and regional authorities of the member states
• The Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations, which consists of delegates from organisations that satisfy the accreditation criteria of the Council of Europe.