Government Involvement in Volunteering

Two months into the International Year of Volunteers 2001 and one of the objectives is to provide an opportunity for governments to participate in the recognition and promotion of volunteer activity.

During the year 2001 there are key events that encourage further government action on establishing legislation and contributing to research on volunteerism at national and international levels. Internationally, February 2001 is devoted to the issues of human development and poverty alleviation.

The United Nations Volunteers program (UNV) is working with governments to help shape UN and country legislation on volunteerism.

Specifically during the year 2001 there are two key opportunities for government involvement focusing on volunteering and social development.

On 15 February 2001, UN’s Commission for Social Development is set to discuss the “role of volunteerism in the promotion of social development”.

It will be a forum in which governments relate “volunteerism to efforts to eradicate poverty, to promote employment, and to enhance social integration.

As well an Expert Working Group Meeting on Volunteering and
Social Development gathered international experts to discuss a background paper on volunteering and social development, written by Dr. Justin Davis Smith, Director of the Institute for Volunteering Research in London.

This paper considers the meaning and definition of volunteering, looks at ways in which volunteering manifests itself in different regions and explores measures governments can take to encourage volunteerism to combat social exclusion and poverty.

For more information on the background paper visit the IYV 2001 web site www.iyv2001.org

At the IYV site, click onto ‘Australia’ and follow “the themes for the year”. Locally, volunteering activities in February focus on Arts, Heritage and Tourism. Let us know what activities your organisation has planned for IYV 2001 via e-mail to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au or share your ideas on our forum.