ICA to host landmark event at The Hague’s Peace Palace on United Nations Day

17 Oct 2025

The ICA will mark United Nations Day with a one-off, high-level event at the iconic Peace Palace in The Hague, home of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This special gathering will explore the nexus between cooperatives, international law, and sustainable development, underscoring the cooperative model’s growing relevance in tackling global challenges. The event will shine a spotlight on the United Nations’ role in shaping international law including the development of frameworks that safeguard democratic participation, economic inclusion, and sustainable growth. Since its founding, the UN has provided the bedrock for global legal consensus, peacekeeping, and rights-based development. Against this backdrop, the ICA will reaffirm its role as custodian of the internationally recognised cooperative principles, which form the very foundation for legislation governing cooperatives in countries worldwide.

With the grandeur of the Peace Palace as a symbolic setting, the ICA is extending a call to member organisations across the globe to partner in delivering and amplifying the event’s impact. By pooling expertise and resources, the cooperative movement can elevate its voice in international policy dialogues and strengthen its influence on the legal frameworks that support cooperative enterprise.

Read about ICA’s submission to the ICJ on the issue of its forthcoming advisory opinion on the Right to Strike here.

The ICA warmly invites broad participation from members, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners committed to the cooperative identity and to sustainable, inclusive development. For partnership and participation enquiries, please contact:
Santosh Kumar, ICA Director of Legislation at kumar@ica.coop before 20 October, 2025.

Provisional Programme

09h30 – 10h00
Inauguration and Statements to mark the United Nations Day by recognizing Cooperative Enteprises in Sustainable Development

10h00 – 10h30
Key note address: The role of the International Court of Justice in upholding universal values of Human Rights and building peaceful societies

10h30 – 11h00
Address and Q&A: The Cooperative Movement and Public International Law A

11h00-11h15
Address and Q&A: Life and times of the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom

11h15 – 11h30
Break

11h30 – 12h20
Panel: Cooperative Education and Training

12h20 – 13h00
Panel: The Law on Cooperative Housing

13h00 – 14h00 Lunch Break

14h00 – 14h20
Thematic address and Q&A: Regulating Platform Economy

14h20 – 14h40
Thematic address and Q&A: Cultural Heritage and the role of Communities: A Global Perspective

14h40-15h30
Thematic address and Q&A: Regional Harmonisation of Laws Experiences from ICA Regions

15h30-15h50
Break

15h50 – 16h40
Discussion: Cooperative Capital, Taxation and Audits

16h40-17h00
Address: Framing issues regarding creating a supportive environment for cooperatives