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Global Survey Shows Rising Women’s Participation in Co-Operatives

 

A joint survey of the ILO and the International Co-Operative Alliance reflects gains for women in co-operatives while pointing to the need for better recognition by governments

 

Brussels, 9 March 2015 – An online survey conducted by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Cooperatives Unit and the International Co-operative Alliance shows 75 per cent of survey respondents feel that women’s participation in co-operatives has increased over the past 20 years.

 

The findings come ahead of a panel and debate to be held 10 March at the United Nations in New York, called “Co-operatives: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.”

 

Regarding the survey findings, the president of the International Co-operative Alliance, Dame Pauline Green said, “The Alliance and ILO joint survey highlights the unique effectiveness of the co-operative model in providing women with a dignified way out of poverty, often away from violence and abuse.”

 

“I am also thrilled with the survey’s indicators towards a high number of women in leadership positions, particularly in our finance and insurance co-operatives,” she added. 

 

Key findings indicate that co-operatives are having an increasingly positive impact on women: 80 per cent of survey respondents felt that co-operatives are better than other types of private or public sector business in advancing gender equality. 

 

“Co-operatives have a history of contributing to equality as well as to economic and social empowerment,” said Simel Esim, Chief of the ILO Cooperatives Unit (COOP). 

 

“Considering that 2015 marks 20 years since the adoption of the United Nations’ Beijing Declaration on gender equality and women’s empowerment, these survey results reflect a positive trend for women’s involvement and advancement through the co-operative movement,” she added.

 

The poll of nearly 600 respondents included co-operative practitioners, civil society organizations, academics, and government workers. Fifty per cent of respondents were from Europe and 15 per cent from both Asia and North America, respectively. The remaining respondents were from sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America, and the Middle East and North Africa. 

Culture and legal framework are most significant barriers 

 

According to survey respondents, cultural issues are the most significant barrier to gender equality encountered by co-operatives. This was overwhelmingly felt by 65 percent of survey respondents. 

 

Survey respondents also said further support of civil society and recognition by the state would continue to boost women’s empowerment and gender equality through co-operatives.  

 

The poll results show that access to employment is being indirectly facilitated by co-operatives in fields such as housing, healthcare, childcare, and eldercare, which provide women with affordable and accessible services that enable them to work. 

Women’s opportunity to participate in governance highly important

 

About two thirds of survey respondents felt that women’s opportunity to participate in governance and management is a highly important feature of co-operatives. 

 

While 50 per cent of respondents felt that member education and training were vital for co-operatives, about the same number indicated that in the co-operatives they were most familiar with, there are never training sessions relevant to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

 

Data gathered from the respondents revealed there seemed to be growing attention to gender issues, movement of women into leadership roles, and the increasing development of women owned co-operatives. 

 

In Europe and North America this was noted to be the case within the financial and social co-operatives specifically, while progress in the agricultural sector was particularly observed within Africa, Latin America, and India.

 

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http://ica.coop/en/what-co-operative

 

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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.

Co-operatives are businesses owned and run by and for their members. Whether the members are the customers, employees or residents they have an equal say in what the business does and a share in the profits.

As businesses driven by values not just profit, co-operatives share internationally agreed principles and act together to build a better world through co-operation.

The International Co-operative Alliance is an independent, non-governmental organisation established in 1895 to unite, represent and serve co-operatives worldwide.  The Alliance provides a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action for and about co-operatives.   

In 1995, the Alliance adopted the revised Statement on the Co-operative Identity which contains the definition of a co-operative, the values of co-operatives, and the seven co-operative principles as described below.

Co-operative 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.

Co-operative Principles

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control

Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence

Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

5. Education, Training and Information

Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6. Co-operation among Co-operatives

Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.