Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1992, Page 59
The Council of Europe's Report
on Sects and New Religious Movements
Introduction by the Editor
of the Cultic Studies Journal
As part of its continuing attempt to keep readers informed about important developments in
the field of cultic studies, the CSJ is reprinting the recent report of the Council of Europe and
related documents. In order to acquaint readers with the Council of Europe, we are excerpting
below, with minor editing, from a brochure prepared by its Directorate of Press and
Information.
The Council of Europe is an international organization bringing together 21
democratic countries of Western Europe, including 12 Common Market countries. Its
headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
The Council was founded in 1949 to work for closer European unity, to protect
democracy and human rights, and to improve living conditions. To do this, it
organizes cooperation between European governments and parliamentarians in a
wide variety of fields. Only the purely military aspects of defense are excluded.
The Council of Europe works through a Committee of Ministers, representing the
governments, and a Parliamentary Assembly, representing national parliaments.
These are assisted by an international secretariat of 80 officials, headed by a
Secretary General who is elected for a five-year term. The Council's budget is
provided by member governments.
The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe's decision-making body. It
consists of the 21 member states' Foreign Ministers, who hold the chairmanship in
turn. They meet in Strasbourg twice a year while their Deputies (Permanent
Representatives) meet for about a week each month.
The Committee of Ministers decides on the Council's policy, adopts the
intergovernmental work program, and approves the organization's budget. It also
determines what action should be taken on proposals it receives from the
Parliamentary Assembly or from its own committees of experts. Its main decisions
take the form either of recommendations to governments to follow common courses
of action or of European conventions and agreements which are binding on the states
that ratify them.
The Parliamentary Assembly's 170 representatives, appointed by the national
parliaments from among their own members, meet in Strasbourg three times a year.
The President of the Assembly is elected for a one-year renewable term.
The Parliamentary Assembly makes proposals to the Committee of Ministers, debates
general policy, and acts as the "conscience of Europe."
The Assembly's proposals to the Committee of Ministers are finalized at its public
plenary sessions after preparatory work by its committees. Its debates cover general
policy matters and European affairs as a whole. Major international issues are often
discussed with the participation of leading politicians from other parts of the world.
The Assembly regularly holds public hearings on important topical issues such as
violence in the media, genetic engineering, or vivisection.
All the main political movements are represented in the Assembly, which is thus a
fair cross-section of European public opinion.
The Council of Europe's Report
on Sects and New Religious Movements
Introduction by the Editor
of the Cultic Studies Journal
As part of its continuing attempt to keep readers informed about important developments in
the field of cultic studies, the CSJ is reprinting the recent report of the Council of Europe and
related documents. In order to acquaint readers with the Council of Europe, we are excerpting
below, with minor editing, from a brochure prepared by its Directorate of Press and
Information.
The Council of Europe is an international organization bringing together 21
democratic countries of Western Europe, including 12 Common Market countries. Its
headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
The Council was founded in 1949 to work for closer European unity, to protect
democracy and human rights, and to improve living conditions. To do this, it
organizes cooperation between European governments and parliamentarians in a
wide variety of fields. Only the purely military aspects of defense are excluded.
The Council of Europe works through a Committee of Ministers, representing the
governments, and a Parliamentary Assembly, representing national parliaments.
These are assisted by an international secretariat of 80 officials, headed by a
Secretary General who is elected for a five-year term. The Council's budget is
provided by member governments.
The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe's decision-making body. It
consists of the 21 member states' Foreign Ministers, who hold the chairmanship in
turn. They meet in Strasbourg twice a year while their Deputies (Permanent
Representatives) meet for about a week each month.
The Committee of Ministers decides on the Council's policy, adopts the
intergovernmental work program, and approves the organization's budget. It also
determines what action should be taken on proposals it receives from the
Parliamentary Assembly or from its own committees of experts. Its main decisions
take the form either of recommendations to governments to follow common courses
of action or of European conventions and agreements which are binding on the states
that ratify them.
The Parliamentary Assembly's 170 representatives, appointed by the national
parliaments from among their own members, meet in Strasbourg three times a year.
The President of the Assembly is elected for a one-year renewable term.
The Parliamentary Assembly makes proposals to the Committee of Ministers, debates
general policy, and acts as the "conscience of Europe."
The Assembly's proposals to the Committee of Ministers are finalized at its public
plenary sessions after preparatory work by its committees. Its debates cover general
policy matters and European affairs as a whole. Major international issues are often
discussed with the participation of leading politicians from other parts of the world.
The Assembly regularly holds public hearings on important topical issues such as
violence in the media, genetic engineering, or vivisection.
All the main political movements are represented in the Assembly, which is thus a
fair cross-section of European public opinion.
