The cooperative movement at the service of social medicine
On the 5th of July this year, International Cooperative Day is commemorating one hundred years of the transforming role of these organisations in the construction of a more inclusive and sustainable world.
International Cooperative Day has been held every year on the first Saturday of July since 1923 - for over one hundred years now, although it was not officially recognised by the General Assembly of the United Nations until 1995.
This annual date seeks to show how cooperative companies empower people, strengthening communities and promoting the values of democracy, sustainability and solidarity. Below, we explain all the details to you.
International Cooperative Day is held every year on the first Saturday of July, which this year will be the 5th of July. What is the reason behind this date?
It was established on this date in 1923 (the first year it was held) by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), when they held this event on the first Saturday of the month of July to aid its organisation and to ensure a coherent participation every year. By choosing a Saturday, it facilitated the participation of cooperatives and communities, as it is not a working day in many countries.
In 1992, the United Nations Organisation (UN) proclaimed International Cooperative Day to be held for the first time in 1995, coinciding with the centenary of the ICA. In its resolution, the UN agreed to align the event with the ICA, that it to say, celebrating it on the first Saturday of July.
At the beginning of the year, the Committee for the Promotion and Advance of Cooperatives (COPAC) decided that this year’s celebration would have the theme of “Driving inclusive and sustainable solutions for a better world.”
The International Cooperative Day will be a flagship moment within the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), a unique opportunity to spotlight the critical role of cooperatives in building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable communities.
Based on shared ownership and democratic control, cooperatives provide practical solutions that put people, the planet and the purpose at the centre of development. CoopsDay 2025 is an opportunity to celebrate this impact and to make a call to extend its scope.
As the world confronts intensifying economic and climate-related crises, persistent inequality and fragile social protection systems, the International Cooperative Day 2025 theme draws attention to the powerful role of cooperatives in delivering evidence-based, people-centred solutions.
The theme coincides with two world events:
“This year’s theme reflects both the identity and urgency of the cooperative model. In a time of global uncertainty, cooperatives are showing that development can be democratic, inclusive and rooted in solidarity. CoopsDay 2025 is a powerful chance to amplify this message to the world,” according to Wenyan Yang, chairman of COPAC.
Meanwhile, Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Cooperative Alliance, assured that “Across the globe, cooperatives are demonstrating that a values-driven Enterprise approach can deliver real and lasting solutions. International Day of Cooperatives 2025 is a moment to recognise this collective strength and reaffirm our dedication to an inclusive and sustainable path forward.”
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