International Day of Co-operatives

On 3 July 2010 co-operatives throughout the world celebrated the International Day of Co-operatives. The theme for the day was how co-operatives can empower women.

 "Co-operative enterprise empowers women"
"La empresa cooperativa empodera a la mujeres"
"L’entreprise coopérative autonomise les femmes"

The  International Day of Co-operatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of July every year. Its aim is to increase awareness on co-operatives and promote  the movement’s successes and ideals.

The scope and role of co-operatives in Australia is, for example, not sufficiently understood. To address this, in June 2009 Co-operatives Australia published a list of the top 100 co-operatives, credit unions and mutuals. Co-operatives Australia is the national body for State Co-operative Federations.

Industries represented in the top 100 list included agriculture, financial services and retail. The combined annual turnover was in the order of $20 billion.  The top 10 were:

• Murray Goulburn (VIC)
• Co-op Bulk Handling (WA)
• HBF (WA)
• Capricorn Society (WA)
• Australian Unity (VIC)
• NRMA (NSW)
• RACV (VIC)
• Namoi Cotton (NSW)
• Lifeplan Australia (SA)
• Dairy Farmers Milk Co-op (NSW)

For the full list go to: http://www.australia.coop/ca/publications

The ICA first celebrated the International Day in 1923. In 1994 the United Nations proclaimed an UN International Day of Co-operatives to be celebrated for the first time in 1995. Since 1995, the ICA and the United Nations  have jointly set the theme for the celebration of the International Day. For more information: http://www.ica.coop/activities/idc.html

According to the ICA: 

“This year’s theme highlights how the cooperative model of enterprise can successfully empower women. It links to the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action which sets out the internationally agreed agenda for women’s empowerment.”

”Co-operatives have a key role to play as they are able to respond to both women’s practical and strategic needs. Whether it be through women only co-operatives or co-operatives made up of women and men, they offer an effective organisational means for women members and employees to raise their living standards by accessing decent work opportunities, savings and credit facilities, health, housing and social services, and education and training. Co-operatives also offer women opportunities for participation in and influence over economic activities. Women gain self-reliance and self-esteem through this participation. Co-operatives also contribute to the improvement of the economic, social and cultural situation of women in other ways including promoting equality and changing institutional biases.”

For more information: http://www.ica.coop/activities/idc/2010.html

David Griffiths is Chair and Secretary of Co-operatives Australia and Secretary of Co-operatives Victoria.