NEW YORK, 21 December (Department of Economic andSocial Affairs) -- The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as theInternational Year of Cooperatives, highlighting the contribution ofcooperatives to socio-economic development. In adopting resolution 64/136on 18 December, the Assembly noted that cooperatives impact poverty reduction,employment generation and social integration.
A cooperative is an autonomous voluntary associationof people who unite to meet common economic, social and cultural needs andaspirations, through a jointly owned and democratically controlledenterprise. In general, they contribute to socio-economic development.
As self-help organizations that meet the needs oftheir members, cooperatives assist in generating employment and incomesthroughout local communities. Cooperatives provide opportunities forsocial inclusion. In the informal economy, workers have formed sharedservice cooperatives and associations to assist in their self-employment. In rural areas, savings and credit cooperatives provide access to bankingservices that are lacking in many communities and finance the formation ofsmall and micro businesses, promotes inclusive finance.
.....
for rest of article:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/dev2784.doc.htm
for resolution:
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N09/469/99/PDF/N0946999.pdf?OpenElement
