United Nations Declares 2012 International Year of Cooperatives

NEW YORK, 21 December (Department of Economic and Social Affairs) -- The
United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year
of Cooperatives, highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to
socio-economic development. In adopting resolution 64/136 on 18 December,
the Assembly noted that cooperatives impact poverty reduction, employment
generation and social integration.

A cooperative is an autonomous voluntary association of people who unite to
meet common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations, through a
jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. In general, they
contribute to socio-economic development.

As self-help organizations that meet the needs of their members,
cooperatives assist in generating employment and incomes throughout local
communities. Cooperatives provide opportunities for social inclusion. In
the informal economy, workers have formed shared service cooperatives and
associations to assist in their self-employment. In rural areas, savings
and credit cooperatives provide access to banking services that are lacking
in many communities and finance the formation of small and micro businesses,
promotes inclusive finance.

The cooperative sector worldwide has about 800 million members in over 100
countries and is estimated to account for more than 100 million jobs around
the world. The strength and reach of cooperatives are illustrated in the
following examples:

. under the umbrella of the World Council of Credit
Unions, 49,000 credit unions serve 177 million members in 96 countries, and
4,200 banks under the European Association of Cooperative Banks serve 149
million clients;

. agricultural cooperatives account for 80 to 99 per
cent of milk production in Norway, New Zealand and the United States; 71 per
cent of fishery production in the Republic of Korea; and 40 per cent of
agriculture in Brazil;

. electric cooperatives play a key role in rural areas.
In Bangladesh, rural electric cooperatives serve 28 million people. In the
United States, 900 rural electric cooperatives serve 37 million people and
own almost half of the electric distribution lines in the country.

International Years are declared by the United Nations to draw attention to
major issues and encourage action. To commemorate the Year, regional
conferences will raise awareness of cooperatives and seek ways to leverage
their contribution to socio-economic development and foster regulatory
frameworks. A research agenda will be proposed and Member States are to
form national committees that will serve as focal points for the Year's
activities.