IPA

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 64/136, declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives, in recognition of the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development, especially with regard to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The objectives of the year are to:

• expand public awareness of the role of cooperatives, particularly in relation to the fulfillment of internationally agreed development goals, such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
• encourage the growth of cooperatives worldwide;
• establish a policy and legal environment conducive to the strength and stability of the cooperative movement.

The goals of the International Year of Cooperatives are to:

• Increase public awareness about cooperatives and their contributions to socio-economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
• Promote the formation and growth of cooperatives;
• Encourage Governments to establish policies, laws and regulations conducive to the formation, growth and stability of cooperatives.

For more information see http://social.un.org/coopsyear/  

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