Synopsis: List of International days of observance established by the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO) and UNESCO. United Nations (U.N.) promotes international awareness and action on a number of important world issues. 24 March - International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.
Introduction
What Are International Days of Observance?
International days of observance, and/or awareness, are notable observed periods such as days, weeks, months, years and even decades, declared by various world governments, major groups and organizations to raise awareness of a particular issue, to commemorate a group or event, or created to celebrate an occasion.
Main Item
By creating special dates or observances, the United Nations (U.N.) promotes international awareness and action on a number of important world issues.
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Many of these dates have been established by:
Economic and Social Council, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
United Nations General Assembly (UN)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Listed below is a list of international days of observance observed or declared by the United Nations.
International Awareness and Commemorative Dates as Observed by the United Nations
17 June - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 June - World Refugee Day
21 June - International Day of Yoga
23 June - United Nations Public Service Day
23 June - International Widows' Day
25 June - Day of the Seafarer - (IMO)
26 June - International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
26 June - United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
July
4 July - (first Saturday in July) - International Day of Cooperatives
11 July - World Population Day
15 July - World Youth Skills Day
18 July - Nelson Mandela International Day
28 July - World Hepatitis Day - (WHO)
30 July - International Day of Friendship
30 July - World Day against Trafficking in Persons
August
9 August - International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
12 August - International Youth Day
19 August - World Humanitarian Day
23 August - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition - (UNESCO)
29 August - International Day against Nuclear Tests
30 August - International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
September
5 September - International Day of Charity
8 September - International Literacy Day - (UNESCO)
12 September - United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 September - International Day of Democracy
16 September - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
21 September - International Day of Peace
25 September - (last week of September) - World Maritime Day - (IMO)
26 September - International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 September - World Tourism Day
October
1 October - International Day of Older Persons
2 October - International Day of Non-Violence
5 October - World Teachers Day - (UNESCO)
5 October - (first Monday in October) - World Habitat Day
9 October - World Post Day
10 October - World Mental Health Day - (WHO)
11 October - International Day of the Girl Child
13 October - International Day for Disaster Reduction
15 October - International Day of Rural Women
16 October - World Food Day - (FAO)
17 October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
20 October - World Statistics Day
24 October - United Nations Day
24 October - World Development Information Day
27 October - World Day for Audiovisual Heritage - (UNESCO)
31 October - World Cities Day
November
2 November - International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
6 November - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
10 November - World Science Day for Peace and Development
14 November - World Diabetes Day
15 November - (third Sunday in November) - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
16 November - International Day for Tolerance - (Resolution 5.61 of the 28th session of the UNESCO General Conference)
19 November - World Toilet Day
19 November - (third Thursday in November) - World Philosophy Day
20 November - Africa Industrialization Day
20 November - Universal Childrens Day
21 November - World Television Day
25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
29 November - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
December
1 December - World AIDS Day
2 December - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 December - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
5 December - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
5 December - World Soil Day - (FAO)
7 December - International Civil Aviation Day - (ICAO)
9 December - International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime
9 December - International Anti-Corruption Day
10 December - Human Rights Day
11 December - International Mountain Day
18 December - International Migrants Day
20 December - International Human Solidarity Day
U.N. International Weeks
February
2 - 8 February (first week of February) - World Interfaith Harmony Week
March
21 - 27 March - Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination
April
19 - 23 April - Global Soil Week
24 - 30 April - World Immunization Week (WHO)
May
4 - 10 May - UN Global Road Safety Week (WHO)
25 - 31 May - Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
August
1 - 7 August - World Breastfeeding Week - (WHO)
October
4 - 10 October - World Space Week
24 - 30 October - Disarmament Week
November
9 - 15 November (the week in which 11 November falls) - International Week of Science and Peace
U.N. International Years
2024 - International Year of Camelids
2022 - International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture
2019 - International Year of Indigenous Languages, International Year of Moderation, International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements
2018 -
2017 - International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
2016 - International Year of Pulses
2015 - International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies, International Year of Soils (FAO)
2014 - International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, International Year of Small Island Developing States, International Year of Crystallography, International Year of Family Farming
2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation, International Year of Quinoa
2012 - International Year of Cooperatives, International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
2011 - International Year for People of African Descent, International Year of Chemistry, International Year of Forests, International Year of Youth
2010 - International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 - 11 August 2011), International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, International Year of Biodiversity, International Year of the Seafarer
2009 - International Year of Reconciliation, International Year of Natural Fibers, International Year of Human Rights Learning, International Year of Astronomy, Year of the Gorilla (UNEP and UNESCO)
2008 - International Year of Planet Earth, International Year of Languages, International Year of Sanitation, International Year of the Potato
2007-2008 - International Polar Year (WMO)
2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
2005 - International Year of Microcredit, International Year for Sport and Physical Education, International Year of Physics
2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition, International Year of Rice
2003 - Year of Kyrgyz Statehood, International Year of Freshwater
2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, International Year of Mountains, International Year of Eco-tourism
2001 - United Nations Year of Dialog among Civilizations, International Year of Volunteers, International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
2000 - International Year of Thanksgiving - (A/RES/52/16), International Year for the Culture of Peace
1999 - International Year of Older Persons
1998 - International Year of the Ocean
1996 - International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
1995 - United Nations Year for Tolerance, World Year of Peoples Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War
1994 - International Year of the Family, International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
1993 - International Year for the World's Indigenous People
1992 - International Space Year
1990 - International Literacy Year
1987 - International Year of Shelter for The Homeless
1986 - International Year of Peace
1985 - Year of the United Nations, International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace
1983 - World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures
1982 - International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa
1981 - International Year for Disabled Persons
1979 - International Year of The Child
1978 - 1979 - International Anti-Apartheid Year
1975 - International Women's Year
1974 - World Population Year
1971 - International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice
1970 - International Education Year
1968 - International Year for Human Rights
1967 - International Tourist Year
1965 - International Co-operation Year
1961 - International Health and Medical Research Year
1959 - 1960 - World Refugee Year
U.N. International Decades
2015 - 2024 - International Decade for People of African Descent
2014 - 2024 - United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All
2011 - 2020 - Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, Decade of Action for Road Safety
2010 - 2020 - United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification
2008 - 2017 - Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
2006 - 2016 - Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions (3rd decade after the Chernobyl disaster)
2005 - 2015 - International Decade for Action, Water for Life
2005 - 2014 - United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
2003 - 2012 - United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All
2001 - 2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa, Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
1997 - 2006 - Decade for The Eradication for Poverty
1995 - 2004 - Decade for Human Rights Education
1994 - 2004 - Decade of the World's Indigenous People
1993 - 2003 - Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
1991 - 2000 - Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, Second Transport and Communications Decade in Africa, United Nations Decade Against Drug Abuse, Fourth United Nations Development Decade
1990 - 2000 - International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
1990 - 1999 - United Nations Decade of International Law, International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
1990s - Third Disarmament Decade
1988 - 1997 - World Decade for Cultural Development
1983 - 1993 - Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
1983 - 1992 - United Nations Decade for Disabled Persons
1981 - 1990 - International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, Third United Nations Development Decade
1980 - 1990 - Second Disarmament Decade
1980's - Industrial Development Decade for Africa
1978 - 1988 - Transport and Communications Decade for Africa
1976 - 1985 - United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace
1973 - 1983 - Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
1971 - 1980 - Second United Nations Development Decade
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Cite This Page (APA): Langtree, I. C. (2018, December 20 - Last revised: 2021, January 19). U.N. International Awareness and Commemorative Dates. Disabled World. Retrieved October 4, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/un-dates.php
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