Download Importance of International Cooperative Day

Importance of International Cooperative Day
The aim of the International Day of Cooperatives is to increase awareness on cooperatives,
highlight the complementarities of the goals and objectives of the United Nations and the
international co-operative movement and underscore the contribution of the movement to the
resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations. The International Day also
aims to strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and
other actors, including governments, at local, national and international levels.
In 1992, following a concerted lobbying effort by the cooperative movements in membership of the
International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and members of the Committee for the Promotion and
Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the
International Day of Cooperatives by the UN by resolution 47/90 of 16 December 1992. The
resolution states:
"... The General Assembly, Proclaims the first Saturday of July 1995 to be the International Day of
Cooperatives, marking the centenary of the establishment of the International Co-operative
Alliance, and decides to consider the possibility of observing an International Day of Cooperatives
in future years; ...
The date of the celebration of the International Day was chosen to coincide with the already
existing International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) International Co-operative Day which has been
celebrated since 1927. In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly adopted another resolution
on cooperatives which not only called on governments and international agencies to consider fully
the potential of cooperatives for contributing to the solution of economic, social and environmental
problems in formulating national development strategies; and consider reviewing legal and
administrative constraints on the activities of cooperatives with a view to eliminating those
constraints that are not applied to other businesses and enterprises, but also invited governments,
relevant international organizations, specialized agencies and national and international
cooperative organizations to observe annually the International Day of Cooperatives on the
first Saturday of July starting from 1995, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its
resolution 47/90".
The theme for the year 2016 International Day of Cooperatives is “Co-operatives : The
power to Act for a Sustainable Future”. The theme was chosen to emphasize the co-operative
contribution to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve three extra
ordinary things viz. End extreme poverty, fight inequality, fix climate change – over the next 15
years. Cooperatives have a unique role to play in realizing the Goals, as they contribute to
sustainable economic growth, social development and environmental responsibility.
Co-operatives around the world celebrate the International Cooperative Day in many different
ways as below:
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The messages of the ICA and United Nations are translated into local languages and widely
disseminated to co-operators, media and government officials at all levels.
Co-operatives use the media to create awareness on their movements and contributions.
Co-operative Fairs, exhibition, contests and campaigns are held.
Meetings with government officials, United Nations agencies and other partner organisations
are held.
Co-operatives partner with community agencies to champion economic, environmental, social
and health challenges.
Cultural events are sponsored - theatre, concerts, etc.
The Post-2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable
Development Goals
Sustainable Development is at the very core of co-operative enterprises. This is a model of
business based on ethical values and principles whose goal is to provide for the needs and
aspirations of their members.
Through self-help and empowerment, enhancing local resources and capacities and reinvesting
surpluses, co-operatives play a pivotal role in responding to local community needs and
objectives.
Instead of looking at short-term goals of maximizing profits, co-operatives have a long-term aim of
sustainable economic growth, social development and environmental responsibility.
Therefore co-operative enterprises support and promote a vision of Sustainable Development
based on a triple bottom line approach: economic, social and environmental.
Even though co-operative enterprises contribute every day and in almost every sector of the
economy towards the achievement of sustainable development goals, there are still several
obstacles that prevent them from fully exploring their potential.
Unleashing the full potential of co-operatives requires, among other measures:
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Recognition that co-operative enterprises are a well suited model of business to deliver
Sustainable Development Goals and have an important role in the implementation of the Post2015 Development Agenda;
Inclusion of specific targets and indicators related to the promotion and development of cooperatives in member countries, in accordance to the definition, values and principles referred
above; these targets should be associated with a concept of growth that includes other factors
than GDP, in particular targets associated with social and environmental indicators.
Access to specific implementation measures and programs including funding; these programs
and measures should be adapted to the specific characteristics of co-operatives and respect
their specific business model
Participation of co-operative structures in the discussions and decision-making processes
regarding the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.