TEHRAN -The 102nd International Day of Cooperatives will be celebrated on July 6 with the theme of ‘Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All’.

The 2023 UN Secretary-General Report on Cooperatives in Social Development acknowledged that cooperatives have a track record of promoting the economic and social development of all people including marginalized groups.

Co-operatives have been acknowledged as associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural, and political advancement of their community and nation.

The cooperative movement has been also recognized as a distinct and major stakeholder in both national and international affairs.

This year's theme aligns well with the objectives of the upcoming UN Summit of the Future whose theme is "Multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow".

Cooperatives will have the opportunity to showcase their current and historical contributions to building a sustainable future, accelerating efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030.

Cooperatives can showcase their high standards for inclusive and sustainable growth, and serve as stewards for protecting the environment and fighting climate change.

Through democratic governance and shared ownership, cooperatives set an example for peace and stability, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together on equal terms, and fostering understanding and respect.

This day will build the momentum towards the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, which was declared by the UN last year.

Co-operatives' open membership model affords access to wealth creation and poverty elimination.

This results from the cooperative principle of members' economic participation: 'Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.'

Because co-operatives are people-centered, not capital-centered, they do not perpetuate, nor accelerate capital concentration and they distribute wealth more fairly.

Co-operatives also foster external equality. As they are community-based, they are committed to the sustainable development of their communities - environmentally, socially, and economically.

This commitment can be seen in their support for community activities, local sourcing of supplies to benefit the local economy, and in decision-making that considers the impact on their communities.

Despite their local community focus, co-operatives also strive to bring the benefits of their economic and social model to all people in the world. Globalization should be governed by a set of values such as those of the cooperative movement; otherwise, it creates more inequality and excesses that render it unsustainable.