National experience in promoting the co-operative movement : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2459 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 3273 (XXIX) of 10 December 1974, 31/37 of 30 November 1976, 33/47 of 14 December 1978 and 36/18 of 9 November 1981, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 1983/15 of 26 May 1983, 1985/22 of 29 May 1985 and 1987/47 of 28 May 1987,

Aware of the ongoing work to elaborate the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade,

Bearing in mind that co-operatives in their different forms are becoming an indispensable factor of economic and social development of all countries, especially the developing countries,

Noting that co-operatives are called upon to help to ensure the fullest possible participation in the development process of all population groups, including women, youth, disabled persons and the aging and to contribute to the implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future,

Having in mind the recent widespread reassessment by Governments of the status of co-operatives and their role in enhancing economic and social development,

Convinced that the sharing among countries of national experience relating to the active involvement of co-operatives in the development process is acquiring increasing importance in the light of new trends in the approach to co-operatives,

1.         Commends the report of the Secretary-General on national experience in promoting the co-operative movement;

2.         Invites all States, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies concerned to make further efforts with a view to promoting the co-operative movement as an important instrument of economic and social development, thus contributing to the implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future;

3.         Requests the Secretary-General to follow closely national experience in promoting co-operatives and to encourage all forms of international co-operation, in collaboration with interested Governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as an important part of the social development strategy;

4.         Also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and relevant organizations of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the status and role of co-operatives in the light of new economic and social trends and to submit it, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session;

5.         Decides to consider the question entitled "Co-operatives and new trends in socio-economic development" at its forty-seventh session as a sub-item of the item entitled "National experience in achieving far-reaching social and economic changes for the purpose of social progress".