International Day of Cooperatives 2017 observed

International Day of Cooperatives: First Saturday of July

The International Day of Cooperatives 2017 was observed across the world on 1 July 2017.

The theme for the 2017 International Day of Cooperatives is Co-operatives ensure no-one is left behind. The theme for the year complements the priority theme of the 2017 High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development: ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world’.

As per the United Nations, co-operatives' open membership model affords access to wealth creation and poverty elimination. This results from the co-operative principle of members' economic participation: 'Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.'

About International Day of Cooperatives

• International Co-operative Day is an annual celebration of the co-operative movement.

• It has been observed on the first Saturday in July since 1923 by the International Co-operative 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."

• Co-operatives around the world celebrate the day in various fashions and each year the organising institutions agree on a theme for the celebrations.