United Nations Observances
https://www.un.org/en/observances
The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. The United Nations observes designated days, weeks, years, and decades, each with a theme, or topic. By creating special observances, the United Nations promotes international awareness and action on these issues. Each international day offers many actors the opportunity to organize activities related to the theme of the day. Organizations and offices of the United Nations system, and most importantly, governments, civil society, the public and private sectors, schools, universities and, more generally, citizens, make an international day a springboard for awareness-raising actions. The majority of observances have been established by resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, although some have been designated by UN specialized agencies. The United Nations also observes anniversaries of key events in its history.
International Days
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.
Find out more about why we mark international days.
JANUARY
4 January
World Braille Day (A/RES/73/161)
24 January
International Day of Education (A/RES/73/25)
27 January
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (A/RES/60/7)
FEBRUARY
4 February
International Day of Human Fraternity (A/RES/75/200, draft A/75/L.52)
6 February
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (A/RES/67/146)
10 February
World Pulses Day (A/RES/73/251)
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)
5 April
International Day of Conscience (A/RES/73/329)
6 April
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (A/RES/67/296)
7 April
International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (A/72/49 (Vol. III) p.186 and 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)
14 April
World Chagas Disease Day [WHO]
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)
23 April (fourth Thursday of April)
International Girls in ICT Day [ITU]
24 April
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (A/RES/73/127)
25 April
International Delegate’s Day (A/RES/73/286)
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)
MAY
2 May
3 May
World Press Freedom Day (UNESCO 26 C/Resolution 4.3)
7 May
“Vesak”, the Day of the Full Moon (A/RES/54/115)
8-9 May
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War (A/RES/59/26)
9 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
International Tea Day (A/RES/74/241)
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)
7 June
World Food Safety Day (A/RES/73/250)
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)
21 June
International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice (A/RES/73/300)
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
4 July (first Saturday of 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)
20 July
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)
22 August
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (A/RES/73/296)
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)
31 August
International Day for People of African Descent (A/RES/75/170, draft A/75/476)
SEPTEMBER
5 September
International Day of Charity (A/RES/67/105)
7 September
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (A/RES/74/212)
8 September
International Literacy Day (UNESCO 14 C/Resolution 1.441)
9 September
International Day to Protect Education from Attack (A/RES/74/275)
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)
17 September
World Patient Safety Day [WHO]
18 September
International Equal Pay Day (A/RES/74/142)
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)
24 September (last Thursday of September)
World Maritime Day (IMCO/C XXXVIII/21)
26 September
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (A/RES/68/32)
27 September
28 September
International Day for Universal Access to Information (A/RES/74/5) [UNESCO 38 C/70]
29 September
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (A/RES/74/209)
30 September
International Translation Day (A/RES/71/288)
OCTOBER
1 October
International Day of Older Persons (A/RES/45/106)
2 October
International Day of Non-Violence (A/RES/61/271)
5 October
World Teachers’ Day [UNESCO] (27 C/INF.7)
5 October (first Monday of October)
World Habitat Day (A/RES/40/202 A)
9 October
World Post Day (UPU/1969/Res.C.11)
10 October
World Mental Health Day [WHO]
10 October (second Saturday of October)
World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP]
11 October
International Day of the Girl Child (A/RES/66/170)
13 October
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (A/RES/64/200)
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 Sunday of November)
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (A/RES/60/5)
16 November
International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 5.61; A/RES/51/95)
19 November
World Toilet Day (A/RES/67/291)
19 November (third Thursday of November)
World Philosophy Day (UNESCO 33 C/Resolution 37)
20 November
Africa Industrialization Day (A/RES/44/237)
20 November
World 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-20/DEC.10)
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)
4 December
International Day of Banks (A/RES/74/245)
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
International Human Solidarity Day (A/RES/60/209)
27 December
International Day of Epidemic Preparadness (A/RES/75/27)