Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message for the International Day of Cooperatives

联合国外秘书长潘基文国际合作社日致辞

2010年7月3日

　　With an egalitarian ethos, participatory decision-making, common ownership and commitment to goals beyond the profit motive, cooperatives are expanding opportunities for women in local economies and societies throughout the world. As the theme of this year’s observance puts it so well: “Cooperative enterprise empowers women”.

　　在世界各地，合作社本着平等的精神，依靠参与式决策、共同所有权和对非营利目标的承诺，正在不断增加妇女在当地经济和社会中的机会。今年纪念活动的主题说的很好：“合作制企业增强妇女的能力”。

　　As the world economy continues to face many difficult challenges, cooperatives are providing a valuable service to many women, especially those in vulnerable communities that lack State services or traditional private sector initiatives.

　　随着世界经济继续面临许多严峻的挑战，合作社为特别是在缺乏国有企业或传统的私营企业的脆弱社区的许多妇女提供了宝贵的机会。

　　Through membership in cooperatives, women are developing self-help strategies, generating their own income and assets, and learning how to overcome entrenched biases and prejudices. In the process, cooperatives are playing an important role in advancing the Millennium Development Goals.

　　通过参加合作社，妇女制订自助战略，创造自己的收入和资产，并学习如何克服根深蒂固的偏见和成见。在这个过程中，合作社在推进千年发展目标方面发挥着重要作用。

　　Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility. I urge the adoption of policies conducive to the creation and expansion of cooperatives — especially those that facilitate the participation of women.

　　合作社让国际社会认识到，经济效益和社会责任是可以兼顾的。我敦促各国实行有利于合作社的建立和扩张的政策，特别是那些有利于妇女参与的政策。

　　On this Day, and as we prepare for the observance of the International Year of Cooperatives in 2012, I encourage Governments to continue working with cooperatives and civil society organizations in our common effort to realize internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. By cooperating, we can truly build a better world.

　　今天，在我们为2012国际合作社年纪念活动做准备的时候，我鼓励各国政府继续与合作社和民间社会组织合作，共同努力实现国际商定发展目标，包括千年发展目标。通过合作，我们才能真正建设一个更加美好的世界。