In his message marking the International Day of Cooperatives 2026, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the vital role of cooperatives in advancing peace through decent work, social justice and resilient communities.
Reflecting this year’s theme, “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World,” he underscores how cooperative enterprises create jobs, strengthen local economies and foster democratic participation in times of growing global uncertainty.
Peace is more than the absence of war. It rests on social justice.
That conviction lies at the heart of the ILO’s mandate and speaks directly to this year’s International Day of Cooperatives theme: “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World.”
Today, peace is under strain. Conflict, displacement, inequality, economic insecurity, environmental disruption and declining trust affect people’s lives.
In this context, cooperatives make a vital contribution.
They create jobs and livelihoods, strengthen local economies, and help keep essential goods and services within reach. They retain value locally while giving people a voice, shared responsibility and democratic control.
More than one billion people are cooperative members. Cooperative employment reaches one in ten workers worldwide. The 300 largest cooperatives and mutuals generate nearly US$2.8 trillion in combined turnover.
The ILO’s Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation calls for a supportive policy and legal framework that reflects the nature of cooperatives and is guided by cooperative values and principles.
Cooperatives also contribute to stability, job creation and community resilience in times of crisis.
On this International Day, let us recognize cooperatives for their role in bringing people together for a more peaceful world rooted in decent work and social justice.
