World NGO Day was officially proposed and recognized in 2010.
World NGO Day is an occasion to celebrate the contributions made by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world. It is celebrated every year on 27 February. The day was officially proposed and recognized in 2010, and declared in 2012. Official website of the eventWorld NGO Day was first marked in 2014 by the United Nations, the European Union and other international organizations. The website further said that it is the brainchild of Latvian-British philanthropist Marcis Skedmanis.
NGOs play an important role in addressing global challenges, advocating human rights and promoting sustainable development.
History of World NGO Day
It was officially proposed and ratified by the 12 countries of the Baltic Sea NGO Forum in Vilnius, Lithuania on April 17, 2010. The member states of the Baltic Sea NGO Forum were Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.
The first global inaugural event of World NGO Day was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland on 27 February 2014 in Helsinki, Finland.
Importance of World NGO Day
The day recognizes the efforts of NGOs in providing humanitarian aid, promoting social justice and contributions made in other areas.
NGOs act as watchdogs, holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions. Through advocacy, research, and public awareness campaigns, they shine a light on injustice, raise awareness of serious issues, and inspire communities to demand action.
Theme of World NGO Day
The universal concept of World NGO Day is to celebrate, commemorate and support various NGOs around the world and the people behind them who contribute to society throughout the year.
World NGO Day is also an opportunity to celebrate diversity and innovation within the sector. NGOs come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small, grassroots organizations to large, multinational institutions. Each person brings their own unique viewpoint, expertise and perspective, which enriches the collective efforts towards positive social change.
This is a way to motivate people to become more actively involved in the NGO sector and encourage greater symbiosis between NGOs and both the public and private sectors.
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