The 2017 International Day of Co-operatives will commemorate on Saturday, 1 July, the achievements of co-operatives to inclusive development, under the theme ‘Co-operatives ensure no one is left behind’.
This slogan echoes the 2016 theme of the UN High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF) and takes forward the 2017 HLPF theme of ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world’.
Through the 2017 International Day, the co-operative movement will show how its unique business model, being based on democracy and openness, creates opportunities for those most at risk for being left behind in the push for a more sustainable future – smallholder farmers, youth, aging persons, women, persons with disabilities, and the rural poor.
The Alliance has published a statement for the International Day and will co-organise the United Nations observance of the Day, under the auspices of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Co-operatives (COPAC), of which the Alliance is a founding member.
There are many ways to celebrate the International Day of Co-operatives:
· Communicate to policymakers in your city, country, or region how co-operatives are building a better world, and ask for their support.
· Organise a celebration that showcases your co-operative’s contributions to inclusion.
· Post videos and photos on social media and online that illustrate how your co-operative ensures no one in your community is left behind.
We want to know how you’re celebrating! Share with the Alliance at media@ica.coop.
Interested in attending the United Nations observance of the International Day of Co-operatives? The event will take place during the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on 10-19 July at UN headquarters in New York. The date will be confirmed in early to mid-June. If you would like an invitation, please contact. Fran McCrae, COPAC coordinator, at copac@copac.coop.
