International Volunteer Day

[2] The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/40/212[3] on 17 December 1985.

While the world grapples with humanitarian and development challenges — amid wars and climate change, we need volunteers to work together for the common good.

It is important to integrate volunteers and the spirit of volunteerism into national and global implementation strategies to achieve the SDGs and build an inclusive world.

The goal of IVD 2014 was to highlight the contribution of volunteers in engaging people from the grassroots in decision-making processes, ultimately creating spaces for participation that lead to stronger governance, social cohesion, peace and sustainable development.

The goal of the event was to pay special tribute to the contribution of youth volunteers to global peace and sustainable human development, highlighting that young people act as agents of change in their communities.

[14] Through the years, International Volunteer Day has been used strategically: many countries have focused on volunteers' contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of time-bound targets to combat poverty, hunger, disease, health, environmental degradation and gender equality.

Representatives from the media or academia, foundations, the private sector, faith groups, and sports and recreational organizations are often involved too.

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 52/17[16][17] of 20 November 1997, proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers (IYV).

The year was conceived to further the recognition of volunteers, facilitate their work, create a communication network and promote the benefits of voluntary service.

A jury made up of UNV representatives and external experts in volunteerism and development cooperation review the nominations and selects the winners.