30 July 1992

41st plenary meeting

The role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 44/58 of 8 December 1989, particularly paragraph 4, in which the Secretary-General was requested, in consultation with Member States and relevant organizations of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the status and role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends,

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the status and role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends,

Recognizing the importance of the policy-oriented research being undertaken by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat concerning the relevance of cooperatives to the achievement of the social policy objectives set forth in the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, in the execution of which it acts as focal point within the United Nations system,

Bearing in mind that 1995 will mark the centenary of the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance,

Noting with satisfaction the important recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General directed towards ensuring the best possible means of dealing with the issue of cooperatives in the light of their broad significance in contributing to the solution of major economic and social problems,

Welcoming the recommendation contained in paragraph 4 (a) of the report of the Secretary-General, and bearing in mind the substantial support shown by Governments and by the international cooperative movement for the idea of observing an international day of cooperatives,

Indicating its appreciation to government agencies, national organizations representing cooperatives, specialized agencies and other organizations, especially the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, for their valuable contribution,

1. Notes with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the status and role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends;

2. Recommends that the General Assembly proclaim an international day of cooperatives to be observed on the first Saturday in July 1995, marking the centenary of the International Cooperative Alliance, and that it consider the possibility of observing an international day in future years;

3. Encourages Governments to consider fully the potential of cooperatives for contributing to the solution of economic, social and environmental problems in formulating national development strategies;

4. Encourages the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to redouble its efforts of support and coordination in order to achieve the social policy objectives set forth in the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future;

5. Invites government agencies, national organizations representing cooperatives, specialized agencies and other organizations, especially the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, to maintain and increase their programmes of support to the international cooperative movement, to the extent possible within existing resources;

6. Also invites, as the Economic and Social Council has already done in its resolution 1668 (LII) of 1 June 1972, the specialized agencies that have a substantial interest in cooperatives, especially the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, as well as other organizations, especially the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and other concerned international organizations of cooperatives that are not yet members of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, to become members at an early date in order to ensure its effectiveness by their contribution of appropriate resources;

7. Recommends that the General Assembly, to the extent possible within existing resources, request the Secretary-General to maintain and increase the support provided by the United Nations to the programmes and objectives of the international cooperative movement and, in his next report on the status and role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends, to indicate the progress made towards that goal.