International Cooperative Day is an annual celebration of the cooperative movement observed on the first Saturday in July since 1923 by the International Cooperative Alliance.
On 16 December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in resolution 47/90 "the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Cooperatives, marking the centenary of the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance."International Day of Cooperatives. United Nations. Since 1995 the United Nations' International Day of Cooperatives has been observed jointly alongside International Cooperative Day.Kavan, Jan. International Day of Cooperatives: "Cooperatives Make Development Happen!" President of the UN General Assembly. 5 July 2003.
Cooperatives around the world celebrate the day in various fashions and each year the organising institutions agree on a theme for the celebrations. The 2010 theme was Cooperative Enterprise Empowers Women, to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action.88th International Cooperative Alliance International Cooperative Day. Manila Bulletin. 2 July 2010.
Previous years' themes 2026: Cooperatives for a peaceful world 2025: Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World 2024: Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All 2023: Cooperatives for sustainable development 2022: Cooperatives Build a Better World 2021: Rebuild better together 2020: Cooperatives For Climate Action 2019: COOPS 4 DECENT WORKInternational Day Of Cooperative, Theme EverGalax 15/4/2019. 2018: Sustainable consumption and production 2017: Cooperatives ensure no one is left behind 2016: Cooperatives: The power to act for a sustainable future. 2015: Choose cooperatives, choose equality 2014: Cooperative enterprises achieve sustainable development for all. 2013: Cooperative enterprise remains strong in time of crisis. 2012: Cooperative enterprises build a better world. 2011: Youth, the future of co-operative enterprise 2010: Cooperative Enterprise Empowers Women 2009: Driving Recovery through Cooperative Enterprise15th United Nations International Day of Cooperatives: "Driving global recovery through cooperative enterprise." Food and Agriculture Organization /International Labour Organization. 7 July 2009. 2008: Confronting Climate Change through Cooperative Enterprise86th ICA International Cooperative Day. Cooperatives Europe. 5 July 2008.Mathes, Rohan. Co-operatives must go global - PM. Sri Lanka Daily News. 6 September 2008. 2007 Cooperative Values and Principles for Corporate Social responsibilityInternational Day of Cooperatives to Highlight Corporate Social Responsibility. United Nations press release. 2006 Peace-building through CooperativesSomavía, Juan. Peace-building through Cooperatives. Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives. 2006. 2005: Microfinance is OUR business! Cooperating out of povertyPanel Discussion on Cooperatives, Microfinance to mark International Day of Cooperatives, 23 June. Newswire. 2004: Cooperatives for Fair Globalisation: Creating Opportunities for AllInternational Day of Cooperatives promotes Fair Globalisation. Agra. 3 July 2004.Menya, Davis. Co-op day this weekend. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. 1 July 2004. 2003: Cooperatives Make Development Happen!: The contribution of co-operatives to the United Nations Millennium Development GoalsUNAG organises peace walk. GhanaWeb. 1 July 2003. 2002: Society and Cooperatives: Concern for CommunityPanel on "Society and Cooperatives: Concern for Community." Social Perspective on Development Branch. 2001: The Cooperative Advantage in the Third Millennium79th ICA International Co-operative Day, 7th UN International Day of Cooperatives. International Co-operative Alliance. 7 July 2001. 2000: Cooperatives and Employment Promotion78th ICA International Co-operative Day, 6th UN International Day of Cooperatives. International Co-operative Alliance. 1 July 2000. 1999: Public Policy and Cooperative LegislationPublic Policy and Co-operative Legislation. National Co-op Update. No. 22 July/August 1999. 1998: Cooperatives and the Globalization of the EconomyAnnan, Kofi. Secretary-General's Message for International Day of Cooperatives. United Nations. 2 July 1998. 1997: The Cooperative Contribution to World Food SecurityPlanning Underway for 2005 International Co-operatives Day. International Co-operative Alliance. 25 October 2004. 1996: Cooperative Enterprise: Empowerment for People-centred Sustainable Development 1995: The ICA Centennial and the Next 100 Years of International Cooperation
References
External links ICA Day information from the International Co-operative Alliance IDC information from the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) Information portal on the social economy in GREECE