The document proposes establishing a World NGO Day through a UN resolution to honor the valuable work of NGOs. It summarizes comments from UN officials praising NGOs for advancing development agendas, protecting marginalized groups, and being at the forefront of social change. The document also notes that NGOs can make valuable contributions to sustainable development through their expertise and experience, and that strengthening their role requires real participation, independence, and commitments to capacity building, accountability, and partnerships.

3. The World NGO Day - intended to be a symbol
of bringing together the world’s NGOs to build a
strongerfutureforall-wouldaimtoraiseawareness
of the many organisations working for good around
the globe. A dedicated day - an important annual
marking point - for all NGOs to celebrate their
achievements, ensuring that also small grassroots
organisations gain the recognition they deserve. To
inspire people to become more actively involved
within NGOs, encouraging more collaboration
between NGOs and commemorating all individuals
who dedicated their lives to the importat work of
the NGO sector.

6. The World NGO Day provides an opportunity to honour and remember NGO founders, employees, volunteers, members and
supporters.There are vast numbers of individuals who have devoted their lives to the work of NGOs in many forms, from those who
offer a few hours of their time to those who have sacrificed their lives for a cause they believe in. It is only right that we take time to
give thanks to the multitude of citizens who have helped build and contributed vastly to the NGO sector.
A great example is 25 years old Ms. Fareeda Kokikhel Afridi (1987-1012) who was brutally shot dead on her way to work in Pakistan
- a women’s rights activist and founder of the NGO Society for Appraisal and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas (SAWERA); Ms.
Angela Cropper (1946 - 2012) of Trinidad and Tobago former President of The Cropper Foundation and former Assistant Secretary-
General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); or Ms. Dorothy Stowe (1920 - 2010)
an American born Canadian and the co-founder of Greenpeace. And there are many more inspiring individuals who have contributed
tremendously to the NGO sector - locally, nationally and internationally - which deserved to be commemorated.

9. “...UNDP is pleased to join the Government
of Finland, UNESCO, UNOPS, the European
Commission, and other partners in celebrating
the tremendous work of non-governmental
organizations, and of all the dedicated people
working for them in countries around the world.
NGOs and civil society networks are powerful
forces in advancing development agendas and
protecting the rights of poor and marginalized
people.”
Ms. Helen Clark
UNDP Administrator
and Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
“...Working for the United Nations for many years I have
seen the huge contribution NGOs have made to further
the development, peacebuilding and humanitarian goals
of the international community and, most importantly,
to the lives of people in need. Personally I believe that a
World NGO day is an excellent opportunity to recognize
and celebrate the successes of the sector, and also to
provide a focus for new ideas.”
Mr. Jan Mattsson
Former Executive Director,
United Nations Office for Project Services UNOPS
And Goodwill Ambassador of the World NGO Day
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10. World NGO Day is a global initiative which aims to secure the passing of a UN resolution
to establish it as an official international observance day.
Which would be held on the same calendar day every year, in recognition of the valuable
work NGOs have done - and continue to do - around the world. For the purpose of this
day, the term NGO will be used to encompass all Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs),
Civil Society Organisatios (CSOs), and other types of Non Governmental Organisation
within the sector - which support the UN international human right principles, and do
not cultivate or promote illegal activities.
NGOs have a key role to play within the SDGs. This pathway is one which tells
the story of effective implementation, clear results and achievements of the
keys goals necessary to ensure the future we want for all of our populations.
Let us walk the pathway to sustainable development as equal partners - its
therefore vital that these contribution is recognised by acknowledging the
World NGO Day as an official observe day under the UN, to be celebrated
every year for many years to come. We call on our Governments and wider
development partners to ensure this.

11. “...I am very please to be here at the World NGO Day 2014
event… I thank you for this initiative, and I certainly hope it will
flourish over time and that it will be recognised sooner rather
than later… World days are important... They are moments to
raise awareness and mobilise support, to push on the national
and international agenda. This is an oportunity to raise the flag
for NGOs and to simply recognise the way they change the
world we live in… Today NGOs are probably at the very cutting
edge of work for the collective good at the national, regional and
international level.”
Mr. Eric Falt
Assistant Director-General
for External Relations and Public Information, UNESCO
“NGOs have always been at the forefront of social
movements and changes. The European Commission
greatly values their willingness to act, their independence
and above all their deep and genuine concern for the
well-being of the communities they serve. On every
single day of the year, all over the world, NGOs are
working hard for the people and communities they have
pledged to help. It’s only right that, on just one of those
days, the world should celebrate NGOs and thank them
for the tremendous work that they do”.
Mr. Andris Piebalgs
Former European Commissioner for Development,
European Commission
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12. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) - MAJOR GROUPS: NGOs
We note the valuable contributions that NGOs could and do make in promoting sustainable development through their well-
established and diverse experience, expertise and capacity, especially in the area of analysis, sharing of information and
knowledge, promotion of dialogue and support of implementation of sustainable development.
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF NGOs:
PARTNERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
NGOs play a vital role in the shaping and implementation of sustainable development. Their credibility lies in the responsible
and constructive role they play in society. The nature of the independent role played by NGOs within a society calls for real
participation; therefore, independence is a major attribute of NGOs and is the precondition of real participation. We are also
cognizant of our need to commit to the process as NGOs. Therefore the NGO Major Group commits to:
• Building our capacity to engage more effectively;
• Enhancing our own accountability and transparency;
• Harnessing the capacity within our communities and peoples via increased networking and exchange of lessons learnt and
augmentation of good practices; and
• Scaling up our work in non- traditional partnerships based on agreed principles.