International Day of Cooperatives

The International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of July each year. While it was first celebrated under the auspices of the United Nations in 2005, its origins date back to 1923 when it was first observed by the international cooperative movement and the International Co-operative Alliance. Each year the theme of the International Day of Cooperatives is determined by the Committee on the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), of which the ILO is a member. Below are links to related ILO statements and activities. 

 

2025

Marking the International Day of Cooperatives 2025, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the vital role cooperatives play in advancing social justice, decent work, and economic resilience. As the world faces major transitions, cooperatives offer inclusive, democratic, and sustainable solutions grounded in solidarity.

The full text of the statement is available here in English, العربية, Deutsch, español, français, русский, Türkçe, 中文한국어, suomi

2024

Statement by the Director-General for the International Day of Cooperatives - 6 July 2024. The theme for the 2024 International Day of Cooperatives is “Cooperatives Build a Better Future for All” 

The full text of the statement is available here in English, العربية, Deutsch, español, français, italiano, 日本語, Português, Türkçe, tiếng Việt, 한국어, монгол

2023

Statement by the Director-General for the International Day of Cooperatives - 1 July 2023. The theme for the 2024 International Day of Cooperatives is “Cooperatives: partners for accelerated sustainable development” .
 

The full text of the statement is available here in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Turkish and Vietnamese.

2022

Statement by the Director-General for the International Day of Cooperatives - 2 July 2022. The theme for the 2022 International Day of Cooperatives is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. 

 

The full text of the statement is available here in English, French, Spanish, and Turkish

2021

Statement by ILO Deputy Director General for Policy for the International Day of Cooperatives – 3 July 2021

The theme for the 2021 International Day of Cooperatives is “Cooperatives for building a people-centred and environmentally just recovery” as determined by the Committee on the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC). The theme is closely linked to building back better together from the social and economic impact of the COVID19 global pandemic. 

1 minute video of the statement is available here.
 

2020

• Statement by ILO Director-General Guy Ryder for the International Day of Cooperatives – 4 July 2020: The theme for the 2020 International Day is "Cooperatives for Climate Action” as determined by COPAC. The theme is closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13. 

1 minute video of the "The COVID-19 response: Cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations" is available here.

A film on "Cooperatives for Climate Action": The film was created for the International Day of Cooperatives 2020. It is available in English, with subtitles in French and Spanish.

 2019

• Message from ILO Director-General Guy Ryder for the International Day of Cooperatives 2019 – 6 July 2019: In commemoration of the ILO’s centenary, the theme of the 2019 International Day of Cooperatives was "Cooperatives for Decent Work" which is closely linked to SDG8. The full text is available in English, español, français, 日本語, and tiếng Việt
• A film on cooperatives and decent work created for the International Day of Cooperatives 2019

2018

• ILO participates in an observance of the International Day of Cooperatives at the United Nations, New York
• ILO participates in an international forum on cooperative development in the Pacific Islands
• Sustainable development is not a choice, but the only way
• Cooperatives contribute to sustainable production and employment in Sri Lanka

2017

• Cooperatives help to build inclusive economies and societies. Message by ILO's Director General Guy Ryder for International Day of Cooperatives 2017 - 1 July 2017. The statement is available in English, العربية, español, français, 日本語 and русский
• ILO celebrates the International Day of Cooperatives by focusing on workers in the informal economy
• International Day of Cooperatives: Cooperation among workers in the informal economy

2016

"An old idea, but more relevant than ever in today’s world" . Message by ILO's Director-General Guy Ryder for International Day of Cooperatives 2016 – 1 July 2016. The statement is also available in English, العربية, español, français, italiano and 日本語
 

2015

“Choose cooperatives, choose equality" . Message by ILO's Director-General Guy Ryder for International Day of Cooperatives 2015 – 4 July 2015.

The statement is also available in English, العربية and 日本語.
 

2014

“Cooperatives for sustainable development". Message by ILO's Director-General Guy Ryder for International Day of Cooperatives 2014 – 5 July 2014
 

2013

“Cooperative enterprise remains strong in times of crisis”. Message by ILO's Director-General Guy Ryder for International Day of Cooperatives 2013 – 5 July 2013
 

2012

"Cooperative enterprises build a better world". Statement by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office on the occasion of International Day of Cooperatives – 6 July 2012 
 

2011

“Youth, the future of cooperative enterprise”. Statement by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office on the occasion of International Day of Cooperatives – 2 July 2011 

The statement is available in English, العربية, español, français, italiano and  中文."
 

2010

“Cooperative enterprise empowers women”. Statement by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office on the occasion of International Day of Cooperatives – 3 July 2010