Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum told cooperatives promote a human rights economy

11 July 2025

The role of cooperatives in the human rights economy was highlighted at the global coalition for social justice’s annual forum in Geneva, Switzerland.

The discussions focused on the implementation of the Human Rights economy, an initiative led by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights and co-convened with the ILO, the International Trade Union Federation (ITUC), and the International Organization of Employers.

Delegates heard from co-convenors, government officials, workers, employers, UN agencies, civil society, and academia.

“Your presence today signals a shared determination to drive a transformative agenda, one that puts human rights dignity and decent work at the centre of economic and social policy,” said the ILO’s Emmanuelle St-Pierre Guilbault, in her opening remarks at the event.

The ICA also attended the meeting, at which it represented its member cooperative organizations, partners as well as the wider Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE).

In his address at the forum ICA Director of Legislation Santosh Kumar referred to a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, which warned against equating economic growth with human progress, suggesting moving from the profit-driven economy to the human rights economy, with the Social and Solidarity Economy described as the first priority.

Mr Kumar explained that SSE of which  cooperatives were a central and legally speaking, most recognisable & definite pillar, also included associations, mutual societies, foundations, social enterprises, self-help groups and other entities operating in accordance with its values and principles.

While referring to the UNESCO inscription of the cooperative idea as cultural heritage, he said, “These values and principles are deeply rooted in humanity’s cultural heritage. They are of universal outstanding value, passed down through generations, striving to build economies and societies that are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.

“In just the past three years, the international community — through the ILO’s tripartite arrangement, as well as the United Nations General Assembly — has adopted several action-oriented resolutions that recognize the role of the SSE in advancing decent work, social justice, environmental sustainability, and the protection of human rights in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

“As we celebrate the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025, under the theme ‘Cooperatives Build a Better World’, it is critical to value, invest in, and support SSE entities and their social innovations that are locally anchored, grounded in democratic governance and centred on human rights,” he said.

Mr Kumar added that the ICA welcomed the recent Resolution of the International Labour Conference, which recognises the indivisible relationship between social justice, democracy and lasting peace and commits to promoting an enabling environment for SSE entities.

“We call for recognising and supporting the contribution of the SSE, particularly cooperatives, to addressing critical issues such as decent work in the care economy, the transition from the informal to formal economy, a just transition to environmental sustainability, and just and inclusive digital transformation.

Such support requires concrete measures, including their capacity building and facilitating their access to finance. This is critical for enhancing their ability to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups and persons in vulnerable situations,” he added.

He also commended the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy, the UN Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, and the ILO COOP/SSE, for their partnership with cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy.

“We commit to dedicating our efforts to advancing social justice as the basis of lasting peace and to build with you, a truly human rights–based economy,” he concluded.

The International Labour Conference

The forum, which brings together partners of the Global Coalition for Social Justice was held in the margins of the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference, which took place between 2 and 13 June in Geneva.

During the conference, CICOPA’s Secretary General, Diana Dovgan, and SEWA Cooperative Federation’s National Health Coordinator, Susan Thomas, spoke during sessions discussing platform work and tackling work informality.

Ms Dovgan urging the establishment of a strong legal framework for regulating platform work through an ILO Convention accompanied by a Recommendation, as well as the recognition of cooperatives as drivers of decent work in the platform economy.

In a historic first, the 113th Session of the ILC voted to draft a legally binding Convention, supplemented by a Recommendation, which will serve as a globally applicable minimum standards to regulate platform work. The Convention will be presented for adoption at the 114th ILC in 2026.

Meanwhile, Ms Thomas emphasised the importance of recognising cooperatives as key actors in addressing informality and supporting the transition to formal employment for decent work.

In a joint reaction, CICOPA and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) expressed deep concern over the conspicuous exclusion of cooperatives from the Resolution on addressing informality and promoting the transition to formality for decent work, adopted at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC). This omission is particularly striking given that ILO Recommendation No. 204 explicitly identifies cooperatives as one of three key forms of economic units central to the formalization process. Moreover, the ILO Constitution itself makes explicit reference to cooperators, underscoring their foundational role within the organization’s normative framework. While the resolution acknowledges the Social and Solidarity Economy, the failure to specifically mention cooperatives risks diminishing their legally recognized status and overlooks the substantive efforts by Member States to foster enabling environments for their growth and integration into formal economies. This lack of recognition, the organizations argue, not only weakens the coherence of international labour standards but also marginalizes a proven pathway for inclusive and sustainable formalization.

Ahead of the conference the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and CICOPA published a joint statement in which they called on governments and the ILO to support platform cooperatives as a key part of building a fairer and more just digital economy.

Read the statement here.

ICA Director of legislation Santosh Kumar also participated in the final session that adopted the resolutions and conclusions of the Standard Setting Committee on Decent Work in the Platform Economy (June 13, 2025). The ILC approved the drafting of a principles based, legally binding Convention and a supplementary Recommendation to define and regulate Decent Work in the Platform Economy.  ILC resolution and Conclusions submitted to the Conference for adoption.