The United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation is annually observed on September 12. The day aims to raise people’s awareness of the UN’s efforts to work on technical cooperation among developing countries. It also celebrates the economic, social and political developments made in recent years by regions and countries in the south.
In 1978 the UN General Assembly established the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation to promote, coordinate and support South-South and triangular cooperation on a global level. In 2003, the General Assembly declared December 19 to be observed as the UN Day for South-South Cooperation. But in 2011, the Assembly moved the date to September 12, to mark the date when it adopted the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.
“As we embark on efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to accelerate development momentum across the South, including by building resilience and mitigating risk.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the UN Day of South-South Cooperation
Tidbits
- The headquarters of the United Nations is in Manhattan, New York City
- The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
- The UN’s most prominent officer is the Secretary-General, an office held by South Korean Ban Ki-moon since 2007.
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