A/RES/60/134
3.
Welcomes the hosting of the first International Conference on
Volunteerism and the Millennium Development Goals, organized jointly by the
Government of Pakistan and the United Nations system and held in Islamabad from
5 to 7 December 2004, and takes note of its final report;1
4.
Reiterates its call upon Governments, with the active support of the
media, civil society and the private sector, to observe the International Volunteer
Day for Economic and Social Development on 5 December and to include activities,
in particular on efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals;
Reaffirms the need to recognize and promote all forms of volunteerism as
5.
an issue that involves and benefits all segments of society, including children, young
persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, minorities and immigrants and
those who remain excluded for social or economic reasons;
Recognizes that volunteering, in particular at the community level, will
6.
help to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 4
7.
Also recognizes the importance of supportive legislative and fiscal
frameworks for the growth and development of volunteerism, and encourages
Governments to enact such measures;
Welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers, and requests them
8.
to continue their efforts, together with other stakeholders, to raise awareness of
volunteerism, increase reference and networking resources available, provide
technical cooperation to developing countries, upon their request, in the field of
volunteerism and enhance coordination among those operating on the ground;
Invites all stakeholders, especially from the private sector community
9.
and from private foundations, to support volunteerism as a strategic tool to enhance
economic and social development, including by expanding corporate volunteering;
10. Calls for the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system to integrate volunteerism in its various forms into their policies, programmes
and reports, and encourages the recognition and inclusion of volunteer contributions
in future United Nations and other relevant international conferences;
11. Acknowledges the importance of civil society organizations for the
promotion of volunteerism, and in this respect recognizes that strengthening the
dialogue and interaction between civil society and the United Nations contributes to
the expansion of volunteerism;
12. Encourages Governments to establish partnerships with civil society in
order to build up volunteer potential at the national level, given the important
contribution that volunteerism makes to the fulfilment of the internationally agreed
development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration;
13. Recognizes the increasing attention being given to the economic
dimension of volunteerism, and encourages Governments, with the support of civil
society, to build up a knowledge base on the subject, to disseminate data and to
expand research on other volunteer-related issues, including in developing
countries;
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4
2
See resolution 55/2.