The year 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001. Opportunities exist for activities throughout 2011 that will showcase the diversity, breadth and depth of volunteering, country by country, as well as worldwide.  IYV +10 offers the chance to raise the profile of volunteering and mobilize many more volunteers.

Based on the success of IYV in 2001, many countries, organizations, and networks, may have already launched planning activities for IYV +10.  The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is also planning its own engagement.  In order to maximize the impact of the ten year anniversary of IYV, it is essential to coordinate all efforts and to ensure activities are mutually supportive. Achievement of the expectations for marking IYV+10 will require both an early and comprehensive involvement of local, national, regional, and global stakeholders and a sustainable mechanism for such stakeholder involvement to enhance recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerism.

In this spirit, UNV was pleased to organize a Consultative Meeting on IYV+10 that engaged global and regional representatives. The Consultative Meeting was held on October 22 and 23, 2009 in Bonn, Germany.  It was an important opportunity for diverse organizations to discuss ways to mark IYV+10 and develop a framework for action, which prioritised support to plans and activities led by strong and diverse national leadership.

From the Bonn Consultative Meeting emerged a Global Call for Action with the hope of inspiring all parties to immediately engage in activities toward a successful marking of IYV+10. The marking IYV+10 is a chance to focus global attention on the important contribution made by volunteers.

Sourse: TDV blog with reference to World Volunteer Web