WUNRN
International Co-Operative Alliance
http://ica.coop/en/media/news/global-survey-shows-rising-women%E2%80%99s-participation-co-operatives
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
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.