IVD was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on 5 December. The coordination of the activities within International Day of Volunteering is responsibility of Agency in UNV (United Nations Volunteers).

The International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE) adopted the General declaration of volunteering in 1990. The Association is focused mostly on promotion and reinforsment of volunteering in whole around the world. At this moment the association is networking organisations and individuals from more than 100 countries.

General declaration of volunteering says that volunteering:

• is established on a personal motivation and an individual decision
• is a form of active civic participation and interest for comunity development
• has a form of group of activities realized mostly without specific organisation
• enrichs human potencial and life quality, reinforces human solidarity
• provides a response on important social challenges and contributes to building of a better and more peaceful world
• contributes to a viability of economic life and work and to creation of new professions

Here you can read the Official statement of General Secretary of UN: