World Cotton Day

Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to observe World Cotton Day in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national priorities, in order to raise awareness of the importance of cotton production, processing, marketing and consumption, the specific related challenges and the emerging opportunities, especially for developing countries and least developed countries;

Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in collaboration with all relevant organizations, in particular the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Trade Organization, the International Trade Centre and the International Cotton Advisory Committee, to facilitate the observance of World Cotton Day, mindful of the provisions contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67;

Invites all relevant stakeholders and interested organizations to raise the visibility of the cotton sector and awareness of the critical role that it plays in economic development, international trade and poverty alleviation, highlighting the importance of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all;

Encourages Member States, through the observance of World Cotton Day, to hold discussions to ensure that people in developing countries in general, and least developed countries in particular, benefit from the earnings and results of cotton production and cotton processing in an appropriate manner;

Invites all relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other international organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as academia, and the private sector, to promote synergies in their areas of expertise, in order to contribute to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and minimize the adverse impacts of the production, processing, marketing and consumption of cotton and cotton-related products;

Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, the United Nations system bodies, other institutions, organizations and entities, as well as civil society organizations, the private sector and academia for effective and appropriate observance.