The ILO promotes universally recognized human and labour rights primarily through its standard-setting functions. Its highest decision-making body, the International Labour Conference (ILC) debates and adopts standards on labour rights, employment, human resource development and other ILO concerns including, for example, small and medium enterprise and cooperative development.

Based on a broad set of democratic and egalitarian values, cooperatives constitute important tools for improving the living and working conditions of both women and men. Since cooperatives are owned by the users of the services they provide, they make decisions that balance the need for profitability with the welfare of their members and the community which they serve.

By fostering economies of scope and scale, cooperatives may contribute to increasing the bargaining power of their members providing them, among others benefits, higher income and social protection. Hence, cooperatives accord members opportunity, protection and empowerment - essential elements in uplifting them from degradation and poverty.