United Nations  A/RES/75/318
General Assembly  Distr.: General  
1 September 2021  
21-12016 (E)    0 80921
*2112016*
Seventy -fifth session  
Agenda item 14 
Integrated and coordinated implementation of and 
follow -up to the outcomes of the major United Nations 
conferences and summits in the economic, social and 
related fields  
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
on 30 August 2021  
[without reference to a Main Committee  (A/75/L.126/Rev.1  
and A/75/L.126/Rev.1/Add.1 )] 
75/318.  World Cotton Day  
The General Assembly , 
Reaffirming  its resolution 70/1  of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming 
our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a 
comprehensive, far -reaching and people -centred set of universa l and transformative 
Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for 
the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating 
poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest 
global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its 
commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – 
economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner, and to 
build ing upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking 
to address their unfinished business,  
Reaffirming also  its resolutions 53/199  of 15 December 1998 and 61/185  of 
20 December  2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and 
Social Council resolution 1980/67  of 25 July 1980 on international years and 
anniversaries, in p articular paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed 
criteria for the proclamation of international years, as well as paragraphs 13 and 14, 
in which it is stated that an international day or year should not be proclaimed before 
the basic arrange ments for its organization and financing have been made,  
Reaffirming further  its resolution 69/313  of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa 
Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for D evelopment, 
which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports 
and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with WT/CFMC/W /95
            - 3 - A/RES/75/318  World Cotton  Day 
21-12016concrete policies and actions and reaffirms the strong political commitment t o address 
the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for 
sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity,  
Considering  the historical importance of cotton as a global commodity and the 
vital rol e that cotton plays in several Member States by providing livelihoods and as 
a subsistence crop for millions of people and its broader economic and social impacts 
around the world, and recognizing the local and cultural heritage associated with 
cotton prod uction and the interlinkage between local production methods and the 
quality of cotton varieties,  
Recognizing  that the proclamation of World Cotton Day will contribute to 
increased awareness of the international community about the importance of the 
contr ibution of the sustainable cotton sector to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda,  
Reaffirming  the relevance of the sectoral Cotton Initiative, launched in 2003 at 
the World Trade Organization to improve market access opportunities for cotton and 
cotton -related products from least developed countries and to substantially reduce any 
trade -distorting effects of undue measures in international cotton trade and to 
intensify discussions on factors negatively impacting cotton trade and markets,  
Reaffirming also  the importance of development assistance programmes and 
efforts to improve cotton production capacity in developing countries, in order to 
foster their cotton supply chain industries,  
Taking into consideration  development assistance activities related to co tton 
production, processing, marketing and consumption provided by the international 
community and aimed at contributing to poverty reduction strategies and other 
development -oriented projects as well as towards increasing the standard of living of 
the poo rest and most vulnerable among those engaged in the cotton value chain sector, 
and cotton by -products, particularly in developing and least developed countries,  
Convinced  of the importance of a global celebration dedicated to cotton 
production and the pro motion of reliable cotton value chains, which would serve to 
draw attention to the hundreds of millions of people around the world who earn their 
livelihoods through their work in cotton production and related industries,  
1. Decides  to proclaim 7 October of each year as World Cotton Day;
2. 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 appro priate 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 c ountries and 
least developed countries;  
3. 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 ; 
4. Recognizes  the role of women in the cotton sector and the importance of
biotechnology in both sustainable cotton production and economic development, and 
underscores the ne ed to increase cultivation of organic cotton and for gender -sensitive 
technical assistance programmes and projects in developing countries;  WT/CFMC/W /95
            - 4 - World Cotton  Day A/RES/75/318  
21-120165. 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;  
6. 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;  
7. 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 an d 
cotton -related products;  
8. Stresses  that the cost of all activities that may arise from the
implementation of the present resolution should be met from voluntary contributions, 
including from the private sector;  
9. 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 effe ctive and appropriate observance.  
99th plenary meeting  
30 August 2021 WT/CFMC/W /95
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