Co-operatives recognised by Rio+20 agreement
The importance of co-operatives to agricultural development, jobs, social development and poverty reduction was affirmed in the Rio+20 document, produced following a major international conference on sustainable development.
The document states: “We acknowledge the role of co-operatives and microenterprises in contributing to social inclusion and poverty reduction in particular in developing countries.”
The United Nations’ Rio+20 conference was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the end of June to discuss ways of advancing a green economy and creating a framework to move forward sustainable development. The conference was attended by over 190 countries across the world.
Dame Pauline Green, President of the International Co-operative Alliance, said: “Members and supporters of co-operatives have long known – co-ops help lift people out of poverty, advance gender equality, give back to the community and address head on the critical issues of sustainable development. What nations did in Rio today was to state that case in writing.”
Betsy Dribben, ICA Director of Policy, added: “Just as we’ve been saying over and over again in this UN International Year of Co-operatives, this values based business model can really make good things happen. Now country leaders at the Rio signing have made it clear they finally get it… We’re grateful that even when the going got tough Brazil stood tall on pressing colleague countries to keep co-operative wording in the text.”
Published On: June 25, 2012
Written By: Natalie
Filed Under: About • Co-operatives Globally • Events
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