The world’s co-operators will celebrate the global movement on 1 July – and this year the theme is inclusion.
The theme for the United Nations International Day of Co-operatives was chosen by the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Co-operatives (COPAC), currently chaired by the International Co-operative Alliance.
Inclusion is a reflection of the people-focused nature of co-ops, and is also intrinsic to the movement’s principles of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control and member economic participation.
The Alliance says: “Co-operatives provide a space where all people, regardless of race, gender, culture, social background or economic circumstance, can meet their needs and build better communities.”
The theme will be addressed further at the Alliance’s Global Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 15-16 November, which will discuss “Putting people at the centre of development”.
COPAC will continue the International Day celebrations at the UN at the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, from 10-19 July.
The forum brings together governments and UN officials to review implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Those interested in attending the UN celebration should contact Fran McCrae at mccrae@ica.coop.
The Alliance will release more details about the International Day, and tools for co-ops, at www.coopsday.coop.
