Changes

The '''Council of Europe''' is an international organisation of [[European]] nations, not to be confused with the [[European Union]], with which its membership substantially overlaps. It has 47 member states and one applicant country ([[Belarus]]). Belarus and the [[Holy See]] are the only European nations not to be members; the latetr has special observer status, along with the [[USA]], [[Canada]], [[Mexico]] and [[Japan]].

The '''Council of Europe''' is an international organisation of [[European]] nations. It is not to be confused with the [[European Union]], with which its membership substantially overlaps. It has 47 member states and one applicant country ([[Belarus]]). Belarus and the [[Holy See]] are the only European nations not to be members; the latter has special observer status, along with the [[USA]], [[Canada]], [[Mexico]] and [[Japan]].

The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 and is based in [[Strasbourg]], [[France]]. Its stated aims are:

The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 and is based in [[Strasbourg]], [[France]]. Its stated aims are:

*to develop common and democratic principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights;

*to develop common and democratic principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights;

*to protect human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law;

*to protect [[human rights]], pluralist [[democracy]] and the [[rule of law]];

*to encourage development of Europe's cultural identity and diversity;

*to encourage development of Europe's cultural identity and diversity;

*to find common solutions to the challenges facing European society: such as discrimination against minorities, xenophobia, intolerance, bioethics and cloning, terrorism, trafficking in human beings, organised crime and corruption, cybercrime, violence against children;

*to find common solutions to the challenges facing European society: such as discrimination against [[minority|minorities]], [[xenophobia]], in[[tolerance]], bioethics and [[cloning]], [[terrorism]], trafficking in human beings, [[organised crime]] and [[corruption]], [[cybercrime]], violence against children;

*to consolidate democratic stability in Europe by backing political, legislative and constitutional reform.  

*to consolidate democratic stability in Europe by backing political, legislative and constitutional reform.  

==Further Information==

==Further Information==

http://www.coe.int/T/e/Com/about_coe/

*http://www.coe.int/T/e/Com/about_coe/

[[Category:Europe]]

[[Category:Europe]]