07 July 2003

Liz Burns, President of the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) pointed out that "without volunteering, there is no civil society", in a speech during the "Volunteering and Social Capital" held recently in Chile.

"Identifying volunteering as a key source of social capital confirms its value, not only in terms of what it achieves, but also in terms of what it represents for the growth of sustainable communities and the development of democracy," she said.

Organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Ms. Burns also emphasized the role of Governments as key stakeholders for the development of volunteering. "It is the role of Governments to create a general context within which civil society and volunteering have an accepted and valued role in society. This includes a legal and fiscal framework which support, or at the very least do not prevent or inhibit volunteering and civic engagement."

IAVE is a global network aimed at promoting and supporting the development of volunteering worldwide and celebrating the contribution of volunteers to communities and society.

Read the speech