The UN General Assembly meets on 6 October 2008. (UN photo)

A PDF copy of the whole report can also be downloaded at the foot of this page.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. 
Thank you Distinguished Delegates.

I am very pleased to introduce the report that has been prepared in response to UN General Assembly Resolution 60/134 from 2005.  That resolution asked for more information on the follow up to the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001, as well as to provide recommendations on how to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers in 2011.
 
The report before you is part of a series of follow-up reports prepared since IYV 2001, building on previous reports presented in 2002 and 2005.  These reports presented progress on the implementation of the recommendations contained in a number of UN General Assembly resolutions that followed IYV.  These resolutions have been invaluable in garnering support for volunteerism around the world.
 
We continue to rely on your guidance and recommendations to support volunteerism throughout the world.  In preparation for this year's report, we have benefited from the comments of more than 50 member states.  We also received feedback from more than 10 UN agencies, and have consulted with a large number of stakeholders from civil society, academia, and the private sector. 

This report provides information on progress made since 2005.  The report recognizes that volunteerism is a value embedded in each and every culture, even if it is expressed in different and culturally-specific ways, and that voluntary action is inspired by principles of free will and solidarity, without expectation of personal gain.  It equally recognizes that global development, while clearly requiring concerted government action, also needs to rely on individual and community voluntary action to support the attainment of development goals.
 
The report focuses on the four key areas that were identified in the context of IYV 2001: recognition, facilitation, networking and the promotion of volunteerism.  The momentum that was created by IYV continues, but there are wide variations between regions. This report puts forward the following recommendations:

• Recognition that volunteerism is culturally determined. Different societies have different forms of volunteerism and therefore there is no blueprint on how to best support and develop it.  Nevertheless, countries should recognize all forms of volunteerism, and accept that people have different ways of engaging in voluntary action;
• The report mentions an increase in opportunities for private sector support to contribute to development through corporate volunteering and corporate social responsibility;
• Strengthened and greater professionalism in formal volunteer programmes needs to continue to be supported.  Volunteer-friendly environments need to be promoted;
• The research community needs to be more engaged to recognize the value of volunteerism and more importantly to support analysis and providing means of quantification of its contribution to development;
• Recognizing the importance of focusing on youth and recognizing their potential for engaging in volunteerism;
• Environmental and sustainable development considerations have not been adequately dealt with in the past in the context of promoting volunteerism.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed this when he recently visited the headquarters of UNV and of a number of other UN entities in Bonn.  He underlined the important role volunteering can play in the protection of the environment and in particular in climate change adaptation and mitigation - a role that should be better recognized;
• It is important to raise the profile of the contribution that volunteerism makes to the work of many other agencies of the UN systems. Volunteers work in many projects of those agencies and are often vital in delivering on their mandates;
• The report makes a number of suggestions on how to mark the ten-year anniversary of IVY in 2011.  These suggestions are made in the context of the impact of the original year in 2001, while being mindful of not engaging in a celebration that would have strenuous budgetary implications.  However, it is important to recognize the achievements of IYV 2001 and have opportunity to reflect back and look forward;
• Therefore, the report proposes two plenary meetings of the UN General Assembly at its 66th Session, including the organization of a number of side events.  An example of such a side event could be 'voices from the field', allowing serving volunteers to bring to this Assembly the reality of day-to-day engagement through voluntary action in promoting development.  A similar arrangement was made successfully in 2001.  These events were very effective in highlighting the importance of volunteerism by showcasing local level achievements.

There is a growing concern about attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015.  Volunteerism alone is not the solution, but volunteerism can make significant contributions and its untapped potential should be developed to contribute to peace and development.  This exchange with you today is extremely important for us and we look forward to receive your guidance. 

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the governments of Brazil and Japan for facilitating the dialogue on the report.  I would also like to thank the member states for their inputs and comments.  And finally, I would like to thank UNDESA [the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs] with whom we have had a strong partnership in discussing the value of volunteerism and its contributions to development, including within the context of social inclusion.
 
The year 2011 represents an important benchmark in rallying around the principles that highlighted IYV in 2001.  Volunteerism can create important links between governments and individuals in support of peace and development and in achieving the MDGs.