Co-op Group launches new petition calling on UK government to dedicate more international development funding to co-operatives
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Today, on the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, Co-op Group is calling on its members and other co-operatives to back a new petition as part of its Hate divides communities. Co-operation builds them campaign.
Across the globe, co-operatives help communities recover and rebuild after conflict.
In Guatemala, they provide livelihoods and stability. In Rwanda and Bosnia, they create opportunities for people to work side by side after war. In Israel, the co-operative village of Wahat al-Salam Neve Shalom brings Palestinian and Jewish families together as equals. In Northern Ireland, Peace Players use sport to connect young people across political and religious divides.
These examples demonstrate that peace is not abstract. It takes commitment, care and consistent effort. Co-operation – rooted in fairness, shared ownership and inclusion – offers a proven and practical way to make progress possible.
Sign a petition calling for action
Co-op Group’s Hate divides communities. Co-operation builds them campaign is calling on the UK Government to dedicate more international development funding to co-operatives. Co-operatives support local ownership, build economic resilience and promote social cohesion, often in the most divided places.
Sign the petition. If it reaches 10,000 signatures before it closes on 29 October, the UK government will be required to respond.
The petition calls for an increase in funding for co-operatives in the UK International Development Budget. It reads: "In the UN Year of Co-operation, we think the UK government should commit to raising the importance of co-operatives with world leaders and show leadership by doubling the proportion of funding allocated to co-operative development as part of the UK's International Development budget.
"A quarter of humanity, 2 billion people, currently live in countries affected by conflict and the work to rebuild these areas has never been more urgent. We think co-operatives have always been advocates for and builders of peace. From Rwanda to Guatemala, we think they offer a powerful and proven model to rebuild communities torn apart by hate, reviving local economies and giving local people a meaningful stake in their business.
"Where hate divides communities, co-operatives build them."
A call for the UK movement to back the campaign
Co-operatives UK is encouraging its members – and their members – to back this campaign by signing and sharing the petition. The strength of the co-operative movement lies in collective action, and this is a powerful opportunity to show how co-operation can help build peace.
Petition link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/724897
