3 July: International Day of Cooperatives

The United Nations General Assembly in 1992 proclaimed the first Saturdays of July as the UN International Day of Cooperatives to increase awareness about cooperatives while highlighting the contribution of these organizations to the resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations.

The selected theme for this year's celebrations, "Cooperatives for Fair Globalisation: Creating Opportunities for All," is linked to the recent report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation and its reference to the critically important role that cooperatives can play in shaping the evolution of globalisation alongside other actors of civil society (read joint interview FAO-ILO included in this update).

During this day, which also commemorates the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), special emphasis will be made to the role cooperatives play in mobilizing human, financial and other resources not only to solve economic, social and environmental problems but also in formulating development strategies at national level.

Therefore governments, relevant international organizations, specialized agencies and national and international cooperative organizations are invited to observe the International Day of Cooperatives as a way to strengthen partnerships between the international cooperative movements.

To read more about this day as well as the messages from the United Nations Secretary-General, COPAC and from the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) please click here.