Editing European Court of Human Rights (section)

==As a court of the Council of Europe==
The European Court of Human Rights, which enforces the European Convention on Human Rights, is the best known body of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe (CoE) ({{langx|fr|Conseil de l'Europe}}, CdE) is an [[international organization|international organisation]] founded in the wake of [[World War II]] to uphold [[European Convention on Human Rights|human rights]], [[democracy]] and the [[Law in Europe|rule of law]] in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/4816408.stm|title=BBC News - Profile: The Council of Europe|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Founded in 1949, it now has 46 member states, covering a population of approximately 700 million, and operates with an annual budget of approximately 500 million [[euro]]s.<ref>Council of Europe, [http://www.coe.int/en/web/about-us/budget Budget], Retrieved: 21 April 2016</ref>

The organisation is distinct from the 27-nation [[European Union]] (EU), although it is sometimes confused with it, partly because the EU has adopted the original [[flag of Europe]] created by the Council of Europe in 1955,<ref>Council of Europe. [http://www.coe.int/en/web/about-us/the-european-flag "The European flag"]. Retrieved 18 April 2016</ref> as well as the [[anthem of Europe]].<ref>Council of Europe. [http://www.coe.int/en/web/about-us/the-european-anthem "The European anthem"]. Retrieved 18 April 2016</ref> No country has ever joined the EU without first belonging to the Council of Europe.<ref>Council of Europe. [http://www.coe.int/en/web/about-us/do-not-get-confused "How to Distinguish Us"]. Retrieved: 18 April 2016</ref> The Council of Europe is an official [[United Nations General Assembly observers|United Nations observer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/intergovernmental-organizations/index.html|title=Intergovernmental Organizations|website=www.un.org}}</ref>