UNITED
NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Statement
of the President of the UN General Assembly at the one hour special event
to mark the closing of the International Year of Volunteers 2001(IYV)
at 12:00
5 December 2001
In 1997 the General Assembly designated 2001 the International Year of Volunteers or IYV – the 27th theme selected in a tradition dating back to 1959. This decision was of enormous importance to a phenomenon which hitherto has received limited recognition and even less strategic consideration as a powerful force affecting almost every aspect of our lives. Indeed, many of the items on the Agenda of this General Assembly over which I am honoured to preside are positively affected by volunteer behaviour.
Through volunteerism all groups in society find meaningful ways to participate by giving time and, in the process, they receive the benefits of the action. 2001 has been a wonderful opportunity to recognize this fact. But IYV has been much more than only increased recognition. Just as International Women’s Year launched a women’s movement 25 years ago, so IYV has provided real impetus for another international movement – around volunteerism - with many millions of people involved in every part of the globe united by one desire, to get involved.
I believe that when people look back in 25 years time at the history of the Organization, they will regard 2001 as a watershed in terms of both having affirmed the powerful contribution that people can make in support of others and of having laid out strategies for promoting volunteerism, at local, national, and international levels.
Today is the close of IYV 2001. In almost every member country of the United Nations the Year has been marked in one way or another. Let us renew our commitment individually and collectively to supporting the volunteer movement because it is people’s desire to help one another which makes for the harmonious and peaceful co-existence which is at the heart of the ideals of the United Nations to which we all aspire.
Thank you