United Nations General Assembly observers

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The United Nations General Assembly has granted observer status to international organizations, entities, and non-member states, to enable them to participate in the work of the United Nations General Assembly, though with limitations. The General Assembly determines the privileges it will grant to each observer, beyond those laid down in a 1986 Conference on treaties between states and international organizations. [1] Exceptionally, the European Union (EU) was in 2011 granted the right to speak in debates, to submit proposals and amendments, the right of reply, to raise points of order and to circulate documents, etc. As of May 2011, the EU is the only international organization to hold these enhanced rights, which has been likened to the rights of full membership, [2] short of the right to vote.

Contents

Observer status may be granted by a United Nations General Assembly resolution. The status of a permanent observer is based purely on practice of the General Assembly, and there are no provisions for it in the United Nations Charter. [3] The practice is to distinguish between state and non-state observers. Non-member states are members of one or more specialized agencies, and can apply for permanent observer state status. [3] Non-state observers are the international organizations and other entities.

Non-member observers

The General Assembly may invite non-member entities to participate in the work of the United Nations without formal membership, and has done so on numerous occasions. Such participants are described as observers, some of which may be further classified as non-member state observers. Most former non-member observer states accepted observer status at a time when they had applied for membership but were unable to attain it, due to the actual or threatened veto by one or more of the permanent members of the Security Council. The grant of observer status is made by the General Assembly only; it is not subject to a Security Council veto.

In some circumstances a state may elect to become an observer rather than full member. For example, to preserve its neutrality while participating in its work, Switzerland chose to remain a permanent non-member state observer from 1948 until it became a member in 2002.

Current non-member observers

As of 2019, there are two permanent non-member observer states in the General Assembly of the United Nations: the Holy See and the State of Palestine. Both were described as "Non-Member States having received a standing invitation to participate as Observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and maintaining Permanent Observer Missions at Headquarters". [4]

The Holy See uncontroversially obtained its non-member observer state status in 1964. The Holy See did not wish to join the United Nations as a member because "Membership in the organization would not seem to be consonant with the provisions of Article 24 of the Lateran Treaty, particularly as regards spiritual status and participation in possible use of force." [5] Since April 6, 1964, the Holy See has accepted permanent observer state status, which was regarded as a diplomatic courtesy, to enable the Holy See to participate in the UN's humanitarian activities and in the promotion of peace.

In 2012, Palestine's observer status was changed from "non-member observer entity" to "non-member observer state", which many called "symbolic". [6] The change followed an application by Palestine for full UN membership in 2011 [7] as part of the Palestine 194 campaign, to provide additional leverage to the Palestinians in their dealings with Israel. [8] The application had not been put to a UN Security Council vote. [9] With the change in status, the United Nations Secretariat held that Palestine was entitled to become a party to treaties for which the UN Secretary-General is the depositary. [10] On 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol, Yeocheol Yoon, declared that "the designation of 'State of Palestine' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents." [11]

The seating in the General Assembly Hall is arranged with non-member observer states being seated immediately after UN member states, and before other observers. [12] On 10 September 2015, the General Assembly resolved to approve the raising at the UN of the flags of non-member observer states alongside those of the 193 UN member states. [13]

Non-Member State [4] Date observer status was grantedAdditional timeline and details
Flag of Vatican City (2023-present).svg Holy See 6 April 1964: granted permanent observer state status
1 July 2004: gained all the rights of full membership except voting rights, submission of resolution proposals without co-sponsoring, and putting forward candidates (A/RES/58/314) [12]
The sovereign entity with statehood over the territory of the Vatican City State.
Flag of Palestine.svg State of Palestine

14 October 1974: the United Nations General Assembly recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the representative of the Palestinian people, and granted it the right to participate in the deliberations of the General Assembly on the question of Palestine in plenary meetings (A/RES/3210 (XXIX)) [14]
22 November 1974: non-state observer status granted to the PLO (A/RES/3237 (XXIX)) [15]
9 December 1988: granted the right to circulate communications without an intermediary (A/RES/43/160) [16]
15 December 1988: designation changed to "Palestine" (A/RES/43/177) [17]
7 July 1998: granted additional rights, including the right to participate in general debate (A/RES/52/250) [18]
29 November 2012: status changed to non-member observer state (A/RES/67/19): [19] [20]
16 October 2018: temporarily granted additional rights while Palestine was Chair of the Group of 77 for 2019 (A/RES/73/5). [21]
10 May 2024: granted additional rights, including being seated with member states, the right to introduce proposals and agenda items, and participate in committees, but not the right to vote (A/ES-10/23). [22]

28 October 1974: PLO recognized as "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people", by states of the seventh Arab summit (and later by over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations and by Israel). [23] [24] [25] [26]
22 November 1974: PLO recognized as competent on all matters concerning the question of Palestine by the UN General Assembly in addition to the right of the Palestinian people in Palestine to national independence and sovereignty.
15 November 1988: PLO unilaterally declared the State of Palestine.
4 May 1994: PLO established the Palestinian National Authority territorial administration as result of the Oslo Accords signed by the PLO itself, Israel, United States and Russia.
7 July 1998: PLO has been assigned seating in the General Assembly Hall immediately after non-member States and before the other observers. [18] [27]
23 September 2011: State of Palestine applies for UN membership [28]
17 December 2012: UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decides that "the designation of 'State of Palestine' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents." [29]
Notes

Former non-member observers

Sixteen former non-member states were also granted observer status. [39] [40] Fourteen of those states eventually became members of the United Nations. The other two constitute a single special case. [Note 1]

Most of the former non-member observer states accepted this status at a time when they had applied for membership but were unable to attain it, due to the (actual or threatened) veto of one or more of the permanent members of the Security Council. The vetoes were later overcome either by changes in geopolitical circumstances, or by "package deals" under which the Security Council approved multiple new member states at the same time, as was done with a dozen countries in 1955 and with East and West Germany in 1973.[ citation needed ]

StateGrantedBecame full memberPeriod
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 195219553 years
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 197319741 year
Flag of North Korea.svg Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1973199118 years
Flag of North Vietnam (1955-1975).svg Democratic Republic of Vietnam 1975 [Note 1] 1 year
Flag of Germany.svg  Federal Republic of Germany 1952197321 years
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 195219553 years
Flag of East Germany.svg  German Democratic Republic 197219731 year
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 195219553 years
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 195219564 years
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 196219631 year
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 1956199337 years
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Republic of Korea 1949199142 years
Flag of South Vietnam.svg  Republic of Vietnam 1952 [Note 1] 24 years
Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain 195519550 years
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 1946200256 years
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 1976 [Note 1] 1977
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 On 30 April 1975 South Vietnam was taken over by North Vietnamese forces and on 2 July 1976 it united with North Vietnam to form modern Vietnam, which was granted observer status in 1976. The UN General Assembly resolutions and decisions for the 30th and 31st sessions do not record the decision to grant observer status, but Resolution 31/21 of 26 November 1976 does refer to the "Permanent Observer of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the United Nations". Viet Nam became a member of the UN on 20 September 1977. [41]

Entities and international organizations

Many intergovernmental organizations and a few other entities (non-governmental organizations 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 New York City, while others do not; however, this is the choice of the organization and does not imply differences in their status. [42]

Regional organization allowed by their member states to speak on their behalf

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 Commission on Sustainable Development, the Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization. It has also been a full participant 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. [43] 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, [44] [2] if their members have given them the right to speak on their behalf. [45]

In the resolution adopted in May 2011 granting additional rights to the European Union the UNGA decided that similar arrangements may be adopted for any other regional organization that is allowed to speak on behalf of its member states. [45]

Organization or entityDate observer status was grantedEntity type
Flag of Europe.svg European Union [note 1] 11 October 1974 (A/RES/3208 (XXIX)): observer status
10 May 2011 (A/RES/65/276): [45] additional rights
The only observer that operates through a hybrid system of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism, giving it some state-like qualities.

Intergovernmental organizations

Those organizations that have permanent offices at the United Nations headquarters are marked with an asterisk (*).

OrganizationDate observer status was granted
Logo Afrikanische Entwicklungsbank.svg African Development Bank 28 Oct 1987 (A/RES/42/10)
Flag of the African Union.svg African Union *
formerly the Organisation of African Unity
11 Oct 1965 (A/RES/2011(XX))
15 Aug 2002 (General Assembly decision 56/475)
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean 17 Oct 1988 (A/RES/43/6)
Flag of the Andean Community of Nations.svg Andean Community 22 Oct 1997 (A/RES/52/6)
Flag of the Arab League.svg Arab League, formally the League of Arab States*1 Nov 1950 (A/RES/477 (V))
ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office7 Dec 2017 ( A/RES/72/126)
Asian–African Legal Consultative Organization *
formerly the Asian–African Legal Consultative Committee
13 Oct 1980 ( A/RES/35/2)
Asian Development Bank logo.svg Asian Development Bank 19 Nov 2002 (A/RES/57/30)
AFoCO Flag.png Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO)15 Dec 2020 (A/RES/75/149)
AIIB logo.svg Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 20 Dec 2018 (A/RES/73/216)
Bandera.AEC.jpg Association of Caribbean States 15 Oct 1998 (A/RES/53/17) [46]
Infobox ASEAN flag.svg Association of Southeast Asian Nations 4 Dec 2006 (A/RES/61/44) [47]
Flag of CARICOM.svg Caribbean Community (CARICOM)*17 Oct 1991 (A/RES/46/8)
Logotipo CAF -banco de desarrollo de AMerica Latin-.png CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
formerly the Andean Development Corporation
14 Dec 2012 (A/RES/67/101)
Central American Bank for Economic Integration 13 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/157)
Flag of the Central American Integration System.svg Central American Integration System (SICA)*19 Oct 1995 (A/RES/50/2)
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC)22 Dec 2020 (A/RES/75/148)
Central European Initiative logo.png Central European Initiative 13 Jan 2012 (A/RES/66/111)
Flag of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.svg Collective Security Treaty Organization 2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/50)
Common Fund for Commodities 23 Nov 2005 (A/RES/60/26)
Flag of the CIS.svg Commonwealth of Independent States 24 Mar 1994 (A/RES/48/237)
Infobox Commonwealth of Nations flag.svg Commonwealth Secretariat *18 Oct 1976 (A/RES/31/3)
Flag CPLP.svg Community of Portuguese Language Countries 26 Oct 1999 (A/RES/54/10)
Community of Sahel–Saharan States 12 Dec 2001 (A/RES/56/92)
Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Ibero-American Countries  [ es ]21 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/153) [48]
Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia logo.svg Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia 6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/77)
Flag of Europe.svg Council of Europe 17 Oct 1989 (A/RES/44/6) [49]
Official logo for D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.png Developing Eight Countries Organization for Economic Cooperation 18 Dec 2014 (A/RES/69/129)
Flag of the East African Community.svg East African Community 9 Dec 2003 (A/RES/58/86)
Economic Community of Central African States *12 Dec 2000 (A/RES/55/161)
Economic Community of Western African States *2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/51)
Economic Cooperation Organization 13 Oct 1993 (A/RES/48/2)
Energy Charter Conference 6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/75)
Eurasian Development Bank 6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/76)
Flag of the Eurasian Economic Union.svg Eurasian Economic Union
formerly the Eurasian Economic Community
9 Dec 2003 (A/RES/58/84)
Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism  [ ru ]7 Dec 2017 (A/RES/72/127)
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) 14 Dec 2012 (A/RES/67/102)
European Public Law Organization 11 Jan 2019 (A/RES/73/215)
Fund for the Development of the Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean 18 Dec 2017 (A/RES/72/128)
Global Dryland Alliance 22 Dec 2020 (A/RES/75/150)
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 16 Dec 2009 (A/RES/64/122)
Global Green Growth Institute 16 Aug 2013 (A/RES/68/191)
Group of Seven Plus 18 Dec 2019 (A/RES/74/196)
GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development 9 Dec 2003 (A/RES/58/85)
Flag of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.svg Gulf Cooperation Council *6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/78)
Hague Conference on Private International Law 23 Nov 2005 (A/RES/60/27)
Ibero-American Conference 23 Nov 2005 (A/RES/60/28)
Indian Ocean Commission 4 Dec 2006 (A/RES/61/43)
Indian Ocean Rim Association 18 Dec 2015 (A/RES/70/123)
Inter-American Development Bank 12 Dec 2000 (A/RES/55/160)
International Centre for Migration Policy Development 19 Nov 2002 (A/RES/57/31)
Icc-logo.svg International Chamber of Commerce *21 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/156) [50]
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)16 Dec 2009 (A/RES/64/123)
Flag of the International Criminal Court.svg International Criminal Court 13 Sep 2004 (A/RES/58/318) [51]
International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)*15 Oct 1996 (A/RES/51/1)
International Development Law Organization *12 Dec 2001 (A/RES/56/90)
International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS)11 Dec 2008 (A/RES/63/133)
International Hydrographic Organization 12 Dec 2001 (A/RES/56/91)
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance *9 Dec 2003 (A/RES/58/83)
International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) 18 Dec 2013 (A/RES/68/121)
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan 7 Dec 2017 (A/RES/72/125)
International Organization for Migration 16 Oct 1992 (A/RES/47/4)
Flag of La Francophonie.svg International Organization of the Francophonie *10 Nov 1978 (A/RES/33/18) [52]
18 December 1998 (General Assembly decision 53/453)
International Renewable Energy Agency Logo.png International Renewable Energy Agency *13 Jan 2012 (A/RES/66/110) [53]
International Seabed Authority 24 Oct 1996 (A/RES/51/6)
International Solar Alliance 10 Dec 2021 (A/RES/76/123) [54]
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea 17 Dec 1996 (A/RES/51/204)
IUCN logo.svg International Union for Conservation of Nature *17 Dec 1999 (A/RES/54/195)
Logo OIJ-01 opt (1).png International Youth Organization for Ibero-America  [ es ]*21 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/154)
Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB)28 Mar 2007 (A/RES/61/259)
Italian–Latin American Institute 6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/74)
Latin American Economic System (SELA)13 Oct 1980 (A/RES/35/3)
Latin American Integration Association 23 Nov 2005 (A/RES/60/25)
Latin American Parliament 13 Oct 1993 (A/RES/48/4)
OPEC Fund for International Development 4 Dec 2006 (A/RES/61/42)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)*15 Oct 1998 (A/RES/53/6)
African-Caribbean-And-Pacific-Group-Of-States-ACP-Flag.svg Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

formerly the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

15 Oct 1981 (A/RES/36/4)
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States 2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/52)
OIC Logo since 2011.svg Organisation of Islamic Cooperation *
formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
10 Oct 1975 (A/RES/3369 (XXX))
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation 8 Oct 1999 (A/RES/54/5)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)13 Oct 1993 (A/RES/48/5)
Flag of the Organization of American States.svg Organization of American States (OAS)*16 Oct 1948 (A/RES/253 (III))
Pacific Islands Forum 17 Oct 1994 (A/RES/49/1)
PAM LOGO HR.svg Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean *16 Dec 2009 (A/RES/64/124)
Partners in Population and Development *19 Nov 2002 (A/RES/57/29)
Permanent Court of Arbitration 13 Oct 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 (RECSA)6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/73)
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/48)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation 2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/53)
South Centre *11 Dec 2008 (A/RES/63/131)
Flag of SADC.svg Southern African Development Community (SADC)2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/49)
Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)18 Dec 2015 (ARES/70/124)
Flag of UNASUR.svg Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)9 Dec 2011 (A/RES/66/484) [55]
Universidad para la Paz.svg University for Peace *11 Dec 2008 (A/RES/63/132)
World Customs Organization
formerly the Customs Cooperation Council
23 Mar 1999 (A/RES/53/216)

Other entities

All five entities are maintaining permanent offices at the United Nations headquarters.

Organization or entityDate observer status was granted
Emblem of the ICRC.svg International Committee of the Red Cross 16 Oct 1990 (A/RES/45/6) [56]
Emblem of the IFRC.svg International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 19 Oct 1994 (A/RES/49/2) [57]
Logo of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.svg Inter-Parliamentary Union 19 Nov 2002 (A/RES/57/32) [58]
Olympic flag.svg International Olympic Committee 20 Oct 2009 (A/RES/64/3) [59]
Flag of the Order of St. John (various).svg Sovereign Military Order of Malta 24 Aug 1994 (A/RES/48/265) [60]

Other observer entity countries in the United Nations General Assembly

Organization or entity or nationDate observer status was grantedRepresenting country
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China (Taiwan) 1981~to date
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 2015~to date
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Republic Of Kosovo

See also

Notes

  1. Originally under the designation of European Communities. The EC formally became the EU on 1 December 2009 and was acknowledged by 2011.

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