The UN General Assembly, in its 52nd session on 20 November 1997 in Resolution 52/17,[1] co-sponsored by 123 countries, passed the ECOSOC resolution, thereby proclaiming 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers. The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV), part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designated in the resolution as the international focal point.[2][3]