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United Nations General Assembly observers
The United Nations General Assembly has given special status to certain groups and places called observers. These observers can join the work of the General Assembly, but there are limits to what they can do. The rights of each observer are decided by the General Assembly.
In 2011, the European Union was given extra rights. It can speak in discussions and suggest ideas, which most observers cannot do. As of May 2011, the EU is the only group with these extra rights. It is almost like a full member, but it cannot vote.
Observer status is given by a decision of the United Nations General Assembly resolution. There are no special rules in the United Nations Charter for this status; it is just a practice of the Assembly. There are two kinds of observers: states and non-states. Non-member states are part of one or more specialized agencies and can ask to become permanent observer states. Non-state observers include international organizations and other groups.
Non-member observers
The United Nations General Assembly can invite places that are not members to join its work. These places are called observers. Some of these are non-member states. Many of these places wanted to join the United Nations but could not because some important members did not agree.
Sometimes, a country chooses to be an observer instead of a full member. For example, Switzerland was an observer from 1948 until it joined in 2002 to keep its neutrality.
As of November 2025, there are two permanent non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine. The Holy See became an observer in 1964 because it did not want to join the United Nations as a member. Palestine became a non-member observer state in 2012 after applying for full membership in 2011.
Non-member observer states sit right after UN member states in the General Assembly Hall. In 2015, the General Assembly decided that the flags of non-member observer states could be raised alongside those of UN member states.
| Non-member state | Date granted observer status | Additional timeline and details |
|---|---|---|
 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) | The sovereign entity with statehood over the territory of the Vatican City State. |
 State of Palestine | 14 October 1974: UN General Assembly recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the representative of Palestinians, and granted it the right to participate in General Assembly deliberations on the question of Palestine in plenary meetings (A/RES/3210 (XXIX))22 November 1974: non-state observer status granted to the PLO (A/RES/3237 (XXIX)) 9 December 1988: granted the right to circulate communications without an intermediary (A/RES/43/160) 15 December 1988: designation changed to "Palestine" (A/RES/43/177) 7 July 1998: granted additional rights, including the right to participate in general debate (A/RES/52/250) 29 November 2012: status changed to non-member observer state (A/RES/67/19): 16 October 2018: temporarily granted additional rights while Chair of the Group of 77 for 2019 (A/RES/73/5). 10 May 2024: granted additional rights, including to be seated with member states, introduce proposals and agenda items, and participate in committees, but not the right to vote (A/ES-10/23). | 28 October 1974: PLO recognized as "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people", by the 7th Arab League summit (and later by over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations and by Israel). 22 November 1974: PLO recognized as competent on all matters concerning the question of Palestine by the General Assembly in addition to the right of Palestinians 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 per the Oslo Accords signed by the PLO, Israel, US and Russia. 7 July 1998: PLO assigned seating in the General Assembly Hall after non-member states and before other observers. 23 September 2011: applied for UN membership 17 December 2012: UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decides "the designation of 'State of Palestine' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents." |
| State | Granted | Became full member | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
 Republic of Austria | 1952 | 1955 | 3 years |
 People's Republic of Bangladesh | 1973 | 1974 | 1 year |
 Republic of Finland | 1952 | 1955 | 3 years |
 Federal Republic of Germany | 1952 | 1973 | 21 years |
 German Democratic Republic | 1972 | 1973 | 1 year |
 Italian Republic | 1952 | 1955 | 3 years |
 Japan | 1952 | 1956 | 4 years |
 Republic of Korea | 1949 | 1991 | 42 years |
 Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 1973 | 1991 | 18 years |
 State of Kuwait | 1962 | 1963 | 1 year |
 Principality of Monaco | 1956 | 1993 | 37 years |
 Spanish State | 1955 | 1955 | 0 years |
 Swiss Confederation | 1946 | 2002 | 56 years |
 State of Vietnam/Republic of Vietnam | 1952 | 1975 — | 23 years |
 Republic of South Vietnam | 1975 | 1976 — | 1 year |
 Democratic Republic of Vietnam | 1975 | 1976 — | 1 year |
| Socialist Republic of Vietnam | 1976 | 1977 | 1 year |
Entities and international organizations
This is a list that changes often and might not have all the items. You can help by adding missing items with references to good sources.
Many intergovernmental organizations and a few other groups (non-governmental organizations and others), are asked to become observers at the General Assembly. Some have an office at the United Nations in New York City, but others do not. This is their choice and does not change their status.
Regional organization allowed by their member states to speak on their behalf
Main article: European Union and the United Nations
The European Union is an observer. It is part of many UN agreements. It joins in some UN groups and takes part in important UN meetings about climate change. In 2011, the EU got more powers in the General Assembly, like speaking in debates, sharing ideas, and giving documents. These powers can also be given to other international groups if their members allow it.
In the rule from May 2011 giving more powers to the EU, the UN decided that similar rules could work for any other regional organization that can speak for its members.
Intergovernmental organizations
Those organizations with permanent offices at the UN headquarters are marked with an asterisk (*).
Specialized agencies and related organizations
Some UN Specialized agencies and related groups have offices at the UN headquarters. Some were allowed to join without needing special approval.
Other entities
All five groups have permanent offices at the UN headquarters.
Former observers
| Organization or entity | Date observer status was granted | Entity type |
|---|---|---|
 European Union | 11 October 1974 (A/RES/3208 (XXIX)): observer status 10 May 2011 (A/RES/65/276): additional rights | The only observer that operates through a hybrid system of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism, giving it some state-like qualities. |
| Organization | Date observer status was granted | |
|---|---|---|
 African Development Bank | 28 Oct 1987 (A/RES/42/10) | |
 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) | |
 Andean Community | 22 Oct 1997 (A/RES/52/6) | |
 Arab League, formally the League of Arab States* | 1 Nov 1950 (ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office | 7 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 | 19 Nov 2002 (A/RES/57/30) | |
 Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) | 15 Dec 2020 (A/RES/75/149) | |
 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank | 20 Dec 2018 (A/RES/73/216) | |
 Association of Caribbean States | 15 Oct 1998 (A/RES/53/5) | |
 Association of Southeast Asian Nations | 4 Dec 2006 (A/RES/61/44) | |
 Caribbean Community (CARICOM)* | 17 Oct 1991 (A/RES/46/8) | |
 CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbeanformerly the Andean Development Corporation | 14 Dec 2012 (A/RES/67/101) | |
| Central American Bank for Economic Integration | 13 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/157) | |
 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 | 13 Jan 2012 (A/RES/66/111) | |
 Collective Security Treaty Organization | 2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/50) | |
| Common Fund for Commodities | 23 Nov 2005 (A/RES/60/26) | |
 Commonwealth of Independent States | 24 Mar 1994 (A/RES/48/237) | |
 Commonwealth Secretariat* | 18 Oct 1976 (A/RES/31/3) | |
 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 | 21 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/153) | |
 Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia | 6 Dec 2007 (A/RES/62/77) | |
| Council of Europe | 17 Oct 1989 (A/RES/44/6) | |
 Developing Eight Countries Organization for Economic Cooperation | 18 Dec 2014 (A/RES/69/129) | |
 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) | |
 Eurasian Economic Unionformerly the Eurasian Economic Community | 9 Dec 2003 (A/RES/58/84) | |
| Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism | 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) | |
 Gulf Cooperation Council, formally the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf* | 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) | |
 International Chamber of Commerce* | 21 Dec 2016 (A/RES/71/156) | |
| International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) | 16 Dec 2009 (A/RES/64/123) | |
| 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 of the Francophonie* | 10 Nov 1978 (A/RES/33/18) 18 December 1998 ( International Renewable Energy Agency* | 13 Jan 2012 (A/RES/66/110) |
| International Solar Alliance | 10 Dec 2021 (A/RES/76/123) | |
 International Union for Conservation of Nature* | 17 Dec 1999 (A/RES/54/195) | |
 International Youth Organization for Ibero-America* | 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) | |
 Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific Statesformerly 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) | |
 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) | |
 Organization of American States (OAS)* | 16 Oct 1948 (A/RES/253 (III)) | |
 Pacific Islands Forum | 17 Oct 1994 (A/RES/49/1) | |
 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) | |
 Southern African Development Community (SADC) | 2 Dec 2004 (A/RES/59/49) | |
 Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) | 18 Dec 2015 (ARES/70/124) | |
 Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) | 9 Dec 2011 (A/RES/66/484) | |
 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) |
| Organization or entity | Date observer status was granted |
|---|---|
 Food and Agriculture Organization | |
 International Atomic Energy Agency | |
 International Criminal Court | 13 Sep 2004 (A/RES/58/318) |
| International Fund for Agricultural Development | |
 International Labour Organization | |
 International Monetary Fund | |
| International Organization for Migration | 16 Oct 1992 (A/RES/47/4) |
| International Seabed Authority | 24 Oct 1996 (A/RES/51/6) |
 International Telecommunication Union | |
| International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea | 17 Dec 1996 (A/RES/51/204) |
| Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization | |
 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization | |
 United Nations Industrial Development Organization | |
 World Bank | |
 World Health Organization | |
| World Intellectual Property Organization | |
 World Meteorological Organization |
| Organization or entity | Date observer status was granted |
|---|---|
 International Committee of the Red Cross | 16 Oct 1990 (A/RES/45/6) |
 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies | 19 Oct 1994 (A/RES/49/2) |
 International Olympic Committee | 20 Oct 2009 (A/RES/64/3) |
 Inter-Parliamentary Union | 19 Nov 2002 (A/RES/57/32) |
 Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 24 Aug 1994 (A/RES/48/265) |
Related articles
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