A/RES/40/212
                                                       17 December 1985
                                                       120th plenary meeting
 
        International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
 
     The General Assembly,
 
     Taking note of the report of the Administrator of the United Nations
Development Programme on the United Nations Volunteers programme, and the
relevant decision of the Governing Council,
 
     Considering that volunteer service, including that of the United Nations
Volunteers, is making an important contribution to socio-economic development
activities,
 
     Recognizing the desirability of stimulating the work of all volunteers
both in the field and in organizations - multilateral, bilateral or national,
non-governmental or government-supported - and of giving encouragement to
those volunteers, many of whom engage in volunteer service at considerable
personal sacrifice,
 
     1.   Invites Governments to observe annually, on 5 December, an
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, and urges
them to take measures to heighten awareness of the important contribution of
volunteer service, thereby stimulating more people in all walks of life to
offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad;
 
     2.   Invites also specialized agencies, other organizations of the United
Nations system and non-governmental organizations that provide, are affiliated
with or benefit from volunteer service to undertake and promote activities to
stimulate greater awareness of the contribution to their work made by
volunteers;
 
     3.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue to promote world-wide
publicity on the important role of volunteer service.