World NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) day is annually observed across the globe on 27th February to create awareness about the importance of social work and to recognise and honour the contributions of the Social workers, NGO founders, employees, volunteers, members and supporters who are working towards the betterment of the society.
Aim:
To recognise the contribution and impacts of NGOs on the world.
Background:
i.The idea of the International Day to recognise the contributions of the NGO, World NGO day, was initiated in the European Union(EU) by Marcis Liors Skadmanis, UK based social entrepreneur and philanthropist.
ii.The IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum on the 17th of April 2010 at Lithuania officially recognised the World NGO day.
iii.The day was officially recognised and declared by the 12member countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).
iv.The day was officially adopted into the Final Statement Resolution of the X Baltic Sea NGO Forum part of the German CBSS Presidency held from 23rd to 25th April 2012 at Berlin, Germany.
First World NGO Day:
- The first World NGO day was observed on 27th February 2014.
- The celebration of the first world NGO day was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Helsinki, Finland.
- The first day was marked by the United Nations(UN), EU Leaders and International Organisations.
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS):
The┬а Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is a regional intergovernmental organisation
The CBSS has 11 Member states as well as European Union and 11 countries with observer status.
What is an NGO?
The term Non-Governmental Organisation was created in Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations in 1945.
The NGO is also referred to as Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Charitable organisation, membership organisation, charity or the third sector.
It is a non-profit group that functions independently of the government.
Around 80% of the global citizens state that NGOs make it easy to be involved in positive social change.
