Marking the International Year of Volunteers +10

This is how it all started...

In November 1997, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2001 as the International Year Volunteers (IYV). The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme was designated as the international focal point.

The idea for IYV emerged from deliberations among several major international NGOs in the early 1990s. The formal proposal to proclaim 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers was made by the Japanese government, cosponsored by 123 countries, and was approved by the UN General Assembly.

The premise underlying IYV 2001 was that voluntary service makes an essential contribution in addressing problems in areas of social, economic, cultural, humanitarian and peacebuilding. For this to happen, there was a need for greater recognition and facilitation of volunteer work, more vigorous promotion of voluntary service, and networks to facilitate a drawing upon – the “best practice” – of volunteers. The designation of an International Year of Volunteers by the UN General Assembly (GA) provided a valuable framework and established a favourable environment enabling a more strategic use of volunteer contributions.

IYV+10 

The year 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001. Opportunity exists for activities throughout the year that will showcase the diversity, breadth and depth of volunteering worldwide and offer the chance to mobilize many more volunteers and raise the profile of volunteering.

The overall goal of marking IYV+10 is focused on promoting greater global recognition of the contribution of volunteerism to society and to achieving peace and development.