As part of the preparations for the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) in 2012, the IYC Secretariat has just released the official logo of the year.
Designed by the DPI Graphic Design Unit, in collaboration with the Division for Social Policy and Development, the logo is based on the slogan of the year, “Cooperative enterprises build a better world,” and features seven gender-neutral figures, who are working together to lift a large cube. The figures represent the participation of people, which is at the core of the cooperative model, and there are seven of them to represent the seven principles of the cooperative movement, viz. voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training, and information, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for community. The logo underscores that these seven principles work together to allow cooperative members to achieve the goals and aspirations that they would not have been able to attain through their individual efforts.
The logo is available for use in the six official languages of the United Nations, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. All United Nations offices and programmes are encouraged to use logo in there promotional and commemorative activities for the IYC. For more information on logo use, please visit the IYC website at social.un.org/coopsyear, or contact the IYC Secretariat at coopsyear@un.org.
About the International Year of Cooperatives:
The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 64/136, declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives, in recognition of the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development, especially with regard to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The objectives of the year are to: expand public awareness of the role of cooperatives, particularly in relation to the fulfillment of internationally agreed development goals, such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); encourage the growth of cooperatives worldwide; and establish a policy and legal environment conducive to the strength and stability of the cooperative movement.
For more information please visit: http://social.un.org/coopsyear/use-the-logo.html
