• About ELSA
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  • Philosophy Statement
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• Elsa schweiz
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• STEP
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About ELSA

ELSA was founded in 1981 in Vienna by students from Austria, Hungry, Poland and Germany. Today ELSA is represented in 35 countries at more than 200 Universities and has a total of nearly 30'000 members all over Europe. ELSA is the world's largest law students organisation.

ELSA has through its activities and commitment within the international community gained a special status with several international institutions.

ELSA has gained consultative status with several United Nations bodies; in 1997 ELSA obtained Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) and Consultative Status with UNCITRAL (UN Commission on International Trade Law), in 1994 ELSA was granted Consultative Status in Category C in UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). Furthermore, in 2000 ELSA was granted consultative status (recently called Participatory Status) with the Council of Europe. In addition, ELSA has a co-operation agreement with UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees). In October 2005 ELSA has obtained Observer Status with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).