Days
20th January – Peace Sunday (Catholic)
8th February – Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking
17th February – Racial Justice Sunday
7th March (2019) – World Book Day – (always the first Thursday in March)
16th June – International Day of the African Child – (First initiated in 1991 by the Organisation of African Unity OAU. It honours those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976)
21st September – UN International Day of Peace – See below.
24th October – UN Day – See below.
13th November – World Kindness Day
17th November – World Day of the Poor (Caritas) http://www.csan.org.uk/worlddayofthepoor/
International Days
These are the international days currently observed by the United Nations. The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution. On occasion, these celebrations are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by the General Assembly.
JANUARY
27 January
Holocaust Memorial Day
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (A/RES/60/7)
FEBRUARY
4 February
6 February
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (A/RES/67/146)
11 February
International Day of Women and Girls in Science (A/RES/70/212)
13 February
World Radio Day (A/RES/67/124)
20 February
World Day of Social Justice (A/RES/62/10)
21 February
International Mother Language Day (A/RES/56/262)
MARCH
1 March
Zero Discrimination Day [UNAIDS]
3 March
World Wildlife Day (A/RES/68/205)
8 March
20 March
International Day of Happiness (A/RES/66/281)
20 March
French Language Day (French)
21 March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (A/RES/2142 (XXI))
21 March
World Poetry Day (UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29)
21 March
International Day of Nowruz (A/RES/64/253)
21 March
World Down Syndrome Day (A/RES/66/149)
21 March
International Day of Forests (A/RES/67/200)
22 March
World Water Day (A/RES/47/193)
23 March
World Meteorological Day [WMO] (WMO/EC-XII/Res.6)
24 March
World Tuberculosis Day [WHO]
24 March
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims (A/RES/65/196)
25 March
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (A/RES/62/122)
25 March
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members
APRIL
2 April
World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139)
4 April
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (A/RES/60/97)
6 April
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (A/RES/67/296)
7 April
International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda (A/RES/58/234)
7 April
World Health Day [WHO] (WHA/A.2/Res.35)
12 April
International Day of Human Space Flight (A/RES/65/271)
20 April
Chinese Language Day (Chinese)
21 April
World Creativity and Innovation Day (A/RES/71/284)
22 April
International Mother Earth Day (A/RES/63/278)
23 April
World Book and Copyright Day (UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 3.18)
23 April
23 April
Spanish Language Day (Spanish)
25 April
World Malaria Day [WHO]
26 April
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (A/RES/71/125)
26 April
World Intellectual Property Day [WIPO]
28 April
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
30 April
International Jazz Day (UNESCO 36 C/Resolution 39)
30 April
“Vesak”, the Day of the Full Moon (A/RES/54/115)
MAY
2 May
3 May
World Press Freedom Day (UNESCO 26 C/Resolution 4.3)
8-9 May
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War (A/RES/59/26)
12 May (second Saturday of May)
World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP]
15 May
International Day of Families (A/RES/47/237)
16 May
International Day of Living Together in Peace (A/RES/72/130)
16 May
International Day of Light [UNESCO] (UNESCO 39 C/Resolution 16)
17 May
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (A/RES/60/252; ITU Resolution 68/2006)
20 May
21 May
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (A/RES/57/249)
22 May
International Day for Biological Diversity (A/RES/55/201)
23 May
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (A/RES/67/147)
29 May
International Day of UN Peacekeepers (A/RES/57/129)
31 May
World No-Tobacco Day [WHO] (WHA Resolution 42.19)
JUNE
1 June
Global Day of Parents (A/RES/66/292)
3 June
World Bicycle Day (A/RES/72/272)
4 June
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (A/RES/ES-7/8)
5 June
World Environment Day (A/RES/2994 (XXVII))
5 June
International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing(A/RES/72/72)
6 June
Russian Language Day (Russian)
8 June
World Oceans Day (A/RES/63/111)
12 June
World Day Against Child Labour
13 June
International Albinism Awareness Day (A/RES/69/170)
14 June
World Blood Donor Day [WHO] (WHA Resolution 58.13)
15 June
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (A/RES/66/127)
16 June
International Day of Family Remittances (A/RES/72/281; GC 38/Resolution 189)
17 June
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (A/RES/49/115)
18 June
Sustainable Gastronomy Day (A/RES/71/246)
19 June
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (A/RES/69/293)
20 June
World Refugee Day (A/RES/55/76)
21 June
International Day of Yoga (A/RES/69/131)
23 June
United Nations Public Service Day (A/RES/57/277)
23 June
International Widows’ Day (A/RES/65/189)
25 June
Day of the Seafarer [IMO] (STCW/CONF.2/DC.4)
26 June
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (A/RES/42/112)
26 June
United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (A/RES/52/149)
27 June
Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (A/RES/71/279)
29 June
International Day of the Tropics (A/RES/70/267)
30 June
International Asteroid Day (A/RES/71/90)
30 June
International Day of Parliamentarism (A/RES/72/278)
JULY
7 July (first Saturday in July)
International Day of Cooperatives (A/RES/47/90)
11 July
World Population Day (UNDP decision 89/46 15, A/RES/45/216)
15 July
World Youth Skills Day (A/RES/69/145)
18 July
Nelson Mandela International Day (A/RES/64/13)
28 July
World Hepatitis Day [WHO]
30 July
International Day of Friendship (A/RES/65/275)
30 July
World Day against Trafficking in Persons (A/RES/68/192)
AUGUST
9 August
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (A/RES/49/214)
12 August
International Youth Day (A/RES/54/120)
19 August
World Humanitarian Day (A/RES/63/139)
21 August
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism(A/RES/72/165)
23 August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition [UNESCO] (29 C/Resolution 40)
29 August
International Day against Nuclear Tests (A/RES/64/35)
30 August
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (A/RES/65/209)
SEPTEMBER
5 September
International Day of Charity (A/RES/67/105)
8 September
International Literacy Day (UNESCO 14 C/Resolution 1.441)
10 September
World Suicide Prevention Day [WHO]
12 September
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation (A/RES/58/220)
15 September
International Day of Democracy (A/RES/62/7)
16 September
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (A/RES/49/114)
21 September
International Day of Peace (A/RES/36/67) (A/RES/55/282)
23 September
International Day of Sign Languages (A/RES/72/161)
26 September
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (A/RES/68/32)
27 September
27 September (last Thursday of September)
World Maritime Day (IMCO/C XXXVIII/21)
28 September
International Day for Universal Access to Information [UNESCO] (38 C/70)
28 September
World Rabies Day [WHO]
30 September
International Translation Day (A/RES/71/288)
OCTOBER
1 October
International Day of Older Persons (A/RES/45/106)
1 October (first Monday in October)
World Habitat Day (A/RES/40/202 A)
2 October
International Day of Non-Violence (A/RES/61/271)
5 October
World Teachers’ Day [UNESCO] (27 C/INF.7)
7 October
9 October
World Post Day (UPU/1969/Res.C.11)
10 October
World Mental Health Day [WHO]
11 October
International Day of the Girl Child (A/RES/66/170)
13 October
International Day for Disaster Reduction (A/RES/64/200)
13 October (second Saturday of October)
World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP]
15 October
International Day of Rural Women (A/RES/62/136)
16 October
World Food Day [FAO] (A/RES/35/70)
17 October
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (A/RES/47/196)
20 October (every five years, beginning in 2010)
World Statistics Day (A/RES/69/282)
24 October
United Nations Day (A/RES/168 (II); A/RES/2782 (XXVI))
24 October
World Development Information Day (A/RES/3038 (XXVII))
27 October
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UNESCO 33/C/Resolution 53)
31 October
World Cities Day (A/RES/68/239)
NOVEMBER
2 November
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (A/RES/68/163)
5 November
World Tsunami Awareness Day (A/RES/70/203)
6 November
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (A/RES/56/4)
10 November
World Science Day for Peace and Development (UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20)
14 November
World Diabetes Day (A/RES/61/225)
15 November (third Thursday in November)
World Philosophy Day (UNESCO 33 C/Resolution 37)
16 November
International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 5.61; A/RES/51/95)
18 November (third Sunday in November)
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (A/RES/60/5)
19 November
World Toilet Day (A/RES/67/291)
20 November
Africa Industrialization Day (A/RES/44/237)
20 November
Universal Children’s Day (A/RES/836(IX))
21 November
World Television Day (A/RES/51/205)
25 November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (A/RES/54/134)
29 November
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (A/RES/32/40B)
30 November
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (OPCW C-10/5)
DECEMBER
1 December
2 December
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (A/RES/317(IV))
3 December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (A/RES/47/3)
5 December
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (A/RES/40/212)
5 December
7 December
International Civil Aviation Day (A/RES/51/33)
9 December
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime (A/RES/69/323)
9 December
International Anti-Corruption Day (A/RES/58/4)
10 December
Human Rights Day (A/RES/423 (V))
11 December
International Mountain Day (A/RES/57/245)
12 December
International Day of Neutrality (A/RES/71/275)
12 December
International Universal Health Coverage Day (A/RES/72/138)
18 December
International Migrants Day (A/RES/55/93)
18 December
Arabic Language Day (Arabic)
20 December
Weeks
18th – 25th January – Week of Prayer of Christian Unity
International Weeks
These are the international weeks currently observed by the United Nations. The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution. On occasion, these celebrations are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by the General Assembly.
FEBRUARY
1–7 February (first week of February)
World Interfaith Harmony Week (A/RES/65/5)
MARCH
21–27 March
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination (A/RES/34/24)
APRIL
24–30 April
MAY
8-14 May 2017
UN Global Road Safety Week [WHO]
25–31 May
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (A/RES/54/91)
AUGUST
1–7 August
World Breastfeeding Week [WHO]
OCTOBER
4–10 October
World Space Week (A/RES/54/68)
24–30 October
Disarmament Week (A/RES/S-10/2 (p. 102))
NOVEMBER
6–12 November (the week in which 11 November falls)
International Week of Science and Peace (A/RES/43/61)
13–19 November
World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November [WHO]
International Years
These are the international years currently observed by the United Nations. The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution. On occasion, these celebrations are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by the General Assembly.
2024
International Year of Camelids (A/RES/72/210)
2022
International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (A/RES/72/72)
2019
International Year of Indigenous Languages (A/RES/71/178)
International Year of Moderation (A/RES/72/129)
International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements (A/RES/72/228)
2017
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (A/RES/70/193)
2016
International Year of Pulses (A/RES/68/231)
2015
International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (A/RES/68/221)
International Year of Soils (A/RES/68/232)
2014
International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (A/RES/68/12)
International Year of Small Island Developing States (A/RES/67/206)
International Year of Crystallography (A/RES/66/284)
International Year of Family Farming (A/RES/66/222)
2013
International Year of Water Cooperation (A/RES/65/154)
International Year of Quinoa (A/RES/66/221)
2012
International Year of Cooperatives (A/RES/64/136)
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All (A/RES/65/151)
2011
International Year for People of African Descent (A/RES/64/169)
International Year of Chemistry (A/RES/63/209)
International Year of Forests (A/RES/61/193)
International Year of Youth (A/RES/64/134)
2010
International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 — 11 August 2011) (A/RES/64/134)
International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures (A/RES/62/90)
International Year of Biodiversity (A/RES/61/203)
International Year of the Seafarer
2009
International Year of Reconciliation (A/RES/61/17)
International Year of Natural Fibres (A/RES/61/189)
International Year of Human Rights Learning (A/RES/62/171)
International Year of Astronomy (A/RES/62/200)
Year of the Gorilla [UNEP and UNESCO]
2008
International Year of Planet Earth (A/RES/60/192)
International Year of Languages (A/RES/61/266)
International Year of Sanitation (A/RES/61/192)
International Year of the Potato (A/RES/60/191)
2007-2008
International Polar Year (WMO)
2006
International Year of Deserts and Desertification (A/RES/58/211)
2005
International Year of Microcredit (A/RES/53/197)
International Year for Sport and Physical Education (A/RES/58/5)
International Year of Physics (A/RES/58/293)
2004
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (A/RES/57/195)
International Year of Rice (A/RES/57/162)
2003
Year of Kyrgyz Statehood (A/RES/57/248)
International Year of Freshwater (A/RES/55/196)
2002
United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage (A/RES/56/8)
International Year of Mountains (A/RES/53/24)
International Year of Ecotourism (A/RES/53/200)
2001
United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations (A/RES/53/22)
International Year of Volunteers (A/RES/52/17)
International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (A/RES/53/132)
2000
International Year of Thanksgiving (A/RES/52/16)
International Year for the Culture of Peace (A/RES/52/15)
1999
International Year of Older Persons (A/RES/47/5 A/RES/50/141)
1998
International Year of the Ocean (A/RES/49/131)
1996
International Year for the Eradication of Poverty (A/RES/48/183)
1995
United Nations Year for Tolerance (A/RES/48/126)
World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War (A/RES/49/25)
1994
International Year of the Family (A/RES/44/82)
International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal (A/RES/48/10)
1993
International Year for the World’s Indigenous People (A/RES/45/164 A/RES/47/75)
1992
International Space Year (A/RES/44/46)
1990
International Literacy Year (A/RES/42/104)
1987
International Year of Shelter for The Homeless (A/RES/36/71 A/RES/37/221)
1986
International Year of Peace (A/RES/37/16 A/RES/40/3)
1985
Year of the United Nations (A/RES/39/161 A)
International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace (A/RES/34/151)
1983
World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures (A/RES/36/40)
1982
International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa (A/RES/36/172 B)
1981
International Year for Disabled Persons (A/RES/31/123)
1979
International Year of The Child (A/RES/31/169)
1978/79
International Anti-Apartheid Year (A/RES/32/105 B)
1975
International Women’s Year (A/RES/3010 (XXVII))
1974
World Population Year (A/RES/2683 (XXV))
1971
International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice (A/RES/2544 (XXIV))
1970
International Education Year (A/RES/2306 (XXII) A/RES/2412 (XXIII))
1968
International Year for Human Rights (A/RES/2081 (XX))
1967
International Tourist Year (A/RES/2148 (XXI))
1965
International Co-operation Year (A/RES/1907 (XVIII))
1961
International Health and Medical Research Year (A/RES/1283 (XIII))
1959/1960
World Refugee Year (A/RES/1285 (XIII))
