Definition
A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Values
Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Member Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Co-operation among Co-operatives
7. Concern for Community
Statement on the Co-operative Identity, 1995 version.
ReplyDeletehttp://ica.coop/en/what-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles
The Statement on the Co-operative Identity, promulgated by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), defines and guides co-operatives worldwide. It contains the definition of a co-operative as a special form of organization, the values of co-operatives, and the currently accepted cooperative principles that direct their behavior and operation. The Statement with the latest revision of the cooperative principles was adopted by ICA in 1995.
According to the Statement, a co-operative is defined as “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.” Co-operatives “are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of co-operative founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.”
International Co-operative Alliance
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Co-operative_Alliance
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is a non-governmental co-operative federation or, more precisely, a co-operative union representing co-operatives and the co-operative movement worldwide. It was founded in 1895. The ICA maintains the internationally recognised definition of a co-operative in the Statement on the Co-operative Identity. ICA represents 248 co-operative federations and organisations in 92 countries (7 October 2010).
In 2006 the ICA published the first major index of the world’s largest co-operative and mutual enterprises, the ICA Global 300,[2] which demonstrated the scale of the co-operative movement globally.
On the first Saturday of July each year, the ICA coordinates celebrations of International Co-operative Day.
In December 2009, the United Nations declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives.
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International Co-operative Alliance
Type Cooperative federation
Founded 1895
Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
Area served global
Key people Pauline Green, President
Members 248 national federations
Website http://www.ica.coop