INCLUSION:Theme of the 2017 International Day of Cooperatives

14 March 2017

Cooperators around the world will celebrate on 1 July 2017 the United Nations International Day of Cooperatives under the theme INCLUSION. Selected by the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), inclusion not only captures the people-focused nature of cooperative enterprises, but also echoes the cooperative principles of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control and member economic participation.

Cooperatives 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 of inclusion additionally complements the Alliance’s Global Conference theme: “Putting people at the centre of development”. The Global Conference will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 15-16 November 2017.

The celebration of the International Day at the United Nations will be in mid-July during the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, during which governments and UN officials will convene to review implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Are you interested in attending the UN celebration? Please, contact Fran McCrae, ICA Policy Manage at mccrae@ica.coop.