International observance (also known as international dedication or international anniversary) denotes a period of time to observe some issue of international interest or concern. This is used to commemorate, promote and mobilize for action. Many of these periods have been established by the United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council or by UNESCO. In this case, the lead agency for a particular international observance uses the symbolism of the United Nations (UN) or UNESCO, a specially designed logo for the year, and their infrastructure to coordinate events worldwide. It also presents a written report about the event. This summarizes the activities that took place around the world under the auspices of the international observance, and makes recommendations for the future.
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List of international observances
Below follows a list of consecutively days, years and decades that have been denoted as international observances by the United Nations. There are also other organizations that declare international observances but those are not as widely recognized.
Days
January
- January 1 - Global Family Day - formerly One Day of Peace and Sharing, recognized by the UN
- January 1 - World Day of Peace - established by Pope Paul VI in his letter dated on 8.12.1967[clarification needed]
- January 26 - International Customs Day recognized by the World Customs Organization[1]
- January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
February
- February 2 - World Wetlands Day
- February 4 - World Cancer Day
- February 6 - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
- February 11 - World Day of the Sick, Instituted by Pope John Paul II
- February 13 - World Radio Day, recognized by UNESCO
- February 14 - Valentines Day
- February 20 - World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN
- February 21 - International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN
March
- March 3 - International Day for Ear and Hearing,[2] recognized by WHO
- March 8 - United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
- March 11 - World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
- March 14 - International Day of Action for Rivers[3]
- March 14 - Pi Day
- March 15 - World Consumer Rights Day
- March 20 - International Day of the Francophonie[4]
- March 20 - International Day of Happiness[5], recognized by the UN
- March 20 - World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People[6]
- March 20 - World House Sparrow Day[7]
- March 20 or 21 – Earth Day
- March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day
- March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
- March 21 - World Poetry Day, recognized by UNESCO
- March 21 - World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA
- March 21 - World Forest Day,[8] recognized by FAO
- March 22 - World Day for Water, recognized by the UN
- March 23 - World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN[9]
- March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN/WHO
- March 25 - International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, recognized by the UN[10]
April
- April 1 - April Fool's Day
- April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
- April 2 - International Children's Book Day
- April 4 - International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the UN[11]
- April 7 - World Health Day, recognized by the UN
- April 7 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the UN
- April 8 - International Romani Day
- April 12 - International Day of Human Space Flight, recognized by the UN[12]
- April 12 - International Day for Street Children
- April 16 - World Entrepreneurship Day[13]
- April 16 - International day against child slavery[citation needed]
- April 17 - World Hemophilia Day, recognized by the UN
- April 21 - World Creativity and Innovation Day. Celebrations begin April 15 - Leonardo da Vinci's Birthday[citation needed]
- April 22 - International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN
- April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN
- April 24 - World Day for Laboratory Animals, recognized by the UN
- April 25 - World Malaria Day, recognized by the WHO
- April 26 - World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN
- April 28 - Workers' Memorial Day, recognized by the International Labour Organisation
- April 29 - International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO[14]
May
- May 1 - May Day - Labour Day
- May 3 - World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN
- May 4 - International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day
- May 5 - International Midwives Day
- May 5 - Happy Birth Day of Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum
- May 6 - International Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)
- May 7 - Rabindranath Tagore's Anniversary Day
- May 8 - World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day
- May 9 - Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, recognized by the UN
- May 10 - The International Mothers Day
- May 12 - International Owl and Pussycat Day celebrating the birthday of Edward Lear and his bicentenary 2012[1] [2]
- May 12 - International Nurses Day
- May 15 - International Day of Families, recognized by the UN
- May 17 - World Information Society Day, recognized by the UN
- May 17 - Vesak Day Birth of Siddhartha, Buddhism found and Death of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
- May 17 - Vesak Day 2600 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya found of Buddhism
- May 17 - World AIDS Vaccine Day
- May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
- May 18 - International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
- May 18 - International Museum Day
- May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, recognized by the UN
- May 22 - World Goth Day
- May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN
- May 23 - World Turtle Day
- May 25 - Geek Pride Day
- May 25 - Towel day Tribute to Author Douglas Adams
- May 25 - Horse Day Day to celebrate and appreciate Horses
- May 29 - International Sleeping Day
- May 29 - International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, recognized by the UN
- May 31 - World No Tobacco Day, recognized by the UN
- May 29 - International No Homework Day
- 1st Tuesday of May - World Asthma Day
- 2nd Saturday of May - World Fair Trade Day
- 2nd Sunday of May - International Mothers' Day
June
- June 1 - International Children's Day
- June 4 - International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, recognized by the UN
- June 4 - International Day of Cyber Trolling, recognized by the whole users of 9gag
- June 5 - World Environment Day, recognized by the UN
- June 8 - World Brain Tumor Day
- June 8 - World Ocean Day
- June 10 - Ballpoint Pen Day
- June 11 - International Moon Celebration
- June 12 - World Day Against Child Labour
- June 14 - World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN
- June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN
- June 18 - International Ride to Work Day
- June 18 - Autistic Pride Day
- June 19 - World Sickle Cell Day, by UN Resolution
- June 20 - World Refugee Day, recognized by the UN
- June 21 - World Music Day
- June 22 - No Panty Day[15]
- June 23 - United Nations Public Service Day, recognized by the UN
- June 25 - International Day of the Seafarer, recognized by the IMO and UN [16]
- June 26 - International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, recognized by the UN
- June 26 - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the UN
- June 28 - International Caps Lock Day
- June 29 - International Sharing Day
- June 30 - International Trolling Day
- 3rd Sunday of June - Fathers' Day
July
- July 1 - Doctor's Day,Bidhan Chandra Roy Birth Day (July 1 in India; March 30 in some other countries)
- July 2 - World UFO Day
- 1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
- July 6 - Comic Sans Day, Netherlands
- July 8 - Writer's Day
- July 9 - International No-Bra Day
- July 11 - World Population Day, recognized by the UN
- July 12 - International EMGP Day
- July 18 - Mandela Day, recognized by the UN[17]
- July 28 - World Hepatitis Day
- July 29 - International Tiger Day
- July 30 - Friendship Day recognized by the UN
- Last Friday of July - System Administrator Appreciation Day
August
- August 5 - International Beer Day
- August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN [3][4]
- August 11 - International Adam Hedges Day, recognized by the UN
- August 12 - International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
- August 13 - International Lefthanders Day
- August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
- August 20 - Akshaya Urja DIN
- August 21 - World Fashion Day
- August 21 - International day of Lucid Dreaming
- August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, recognized by the UN
September
- September 8 - International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN
- September 8 - World Physical Therapy Day
- September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
- September 11 - 9/11 anniversary
- September 11 - World First Aid Day
- September 15 - International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN
- September 16 - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, recognized by the UN
- September 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
- September 21 - Pearse's Birthday
- September 21 - International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN
- September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
- September 22 - (World) Car Free Day(s),world rhino day
- September 26 - European Day of Languages
- September 27 - World Tourism Day
- September 28 - Right to Know Day (RightToKnowDay.net)
- September 28 - World Rabies Day
- September 29 - World Heart Day ([5]}
- During last week of September - World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN
- September 30 - Template:World Helping day
October
- First Monday of October - World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN
- October 1 - International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN
- October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
- October 2 - International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN, observed on M.K. Gandhi's birthday
- October 4 - International Taco Day
- October 4 - World Animal Day
- October 5 - World Teachers' Day
- October 7 - World Smile Day[18]
- October 8 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
- October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
- October 9 - World Post Day, recognized by the UN
- October 9 - Global Jamie Day, recognized by the UN
- October 10 - World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN
- October 10 - World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP
- October 12 - CubeSat Appreciation Day, a new initiative
- October 13 - International Day for Disaster Reduction, recognized by the UN
- October 14 - World Standards Day
- October 15 - International Day of Rural Women, recognized by the UN
- October 15 - Global Handwashing Day
- October 16 - National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
- October 16 - World Food Day, recognized by the UN
- October 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN
- October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day[19]
- October 20 - International Day of the Air Traffic Controller[20]
- October 20 - World Statistics Day
- October 21 - Jason is Awesome Day
- October 24 - United Nations Day, recognized by the UN
- October 24 - World Development Information Day, recognized by the UN
- October 27 - World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, recognized by the UN
- October 28 - INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY
- October 28 - International Animation Day
- Second Thursday of October - World Sight Day[21]
- Second Friday of October - World Egg Day[22]
November
- Third Sunday of November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN
- November 1 - International Wank Day
- November 6 - International nachos day
- November 6 - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN
- November 8 - International Day of Radiology, anniversary of the discovery of X-rays
- November 9 - World Freedom Day
- November 10 - World Immunization Day, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogen).
- November 12 - World Pneumonia Day[23]
- November 13 - World Kindness Day
- November 14 - World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN
- November 16 - International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN
- November 17 - International Students Day
- November 19 - International Men's Day (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungary, Ireland, Ghana, Canada, Denmark, Austria, England, France, Scotland, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada)
- November 19 - World flower Day
- November 20 - Africa Industrialization Day, recognized by the UN
- November 20 - Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN
- November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 21 - World Fisheries Day, Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum
- November 21 - World Hello Day
- November 21 - World Television Day, recognized by the UN
- November 22 - International Hug a Dragon Day.
- November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by the UN
- November 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN
- November 30 - Computer Security Day
December
- December 1 - World Aids Day, recognized by the UN
- December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, recognized by the UN
- December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognized by the UN
- December 4 - International Huge Penis Day
- December 5 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, recognized by the UN
- December 6 - World Colonics Day, recognized by the UN
- December 7 - International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN
- December 9 - The International Day against Corruption, recognized by the UN
- December 10 - Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN
- December 10 - International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns[24]
- December 11 - International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
- December 12 - The International Day Of Heavy Metal, a celebration of Heavy Metal & Hard Rock Music[25][26][27][28]
- December 13 - International Day Day, a meme celebrated by followers of Reddit[citation needed]
- December 18 - International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN
- December 19 - United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN
- December 20 - International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN
- December 25 - Christmas
Weeks
- March 21–27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
- April 25 – May 2 (2009) — Vaccination Week In The Americas[29]
- May 25–31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN
- 4th week of September - (International) Peace Week
- October 4–10 - World Space Week, recognized by the UN
- October 24–30 - Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN
- October 25–31 - International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, [6]
- Road Safety Week - November
- Shark Week - Summer
Months
- January - InFo-ZoNe Month
- February - LGBTQ Month
- October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- October - International Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC); www.isaac-online.org; www.aacawareness.org
- November - Movember November events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression
- November - National Novel Writing Month People from all over the world trying to each write a 50,000 word novel in a month.
Years
Before 1950
- 1882/1883 - International Polar Year
- 1932/1933 - International Polar Year
1950s
- 1957/1958 - International Geophysical Year
- 1959/1960 - World Refugee Year
1960s
- 1961 - International Health and Medical Research Year
- 1965 - International Cooperation Year
- 1967 - International Tourist Year
- 1968 - International Year for Human Rights
1970s
- 1970 - International Education Year
- 1971 - International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
- 1974 - World Population Year
- 1975 - International Women's Year
- 1978/1979 - International Anti-Apartheid Year
- 1979 - International Year of the Child
1980s
- 1981 - International Year of Disabled Persons
- 1982 - International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa
- 1983 - World Communications Year
- 1984 - Year of Women in South Africa [7]
- 1985 - Year of the United Nations
- 1985 - International Youth Year
- 1986 - International Year of Peace
- 1987 - International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
1990s
- 1990 - International Literacy Year - United Nations General Assembly Resolution 104 session 42 International Literacy Year on 7 December 1987
- 1992 - International Space Year
- 1993 - International Year of the World's Indigenous People
- 1994 - International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
- 1994 - International Year of the Family
- 1995 - World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War
- 1995 - United Nations Year for Tolerance
- 1996 - International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
- 1998 - International Year of the Ocean
- 1999 - International Year of Older Persons
- 1999 - International Men's Day
2000s
- 2000 - International Year of Thanksgiving
- 2000 - International Year for the Culture of Peace
- 2000 - World Mathematical Year
- 2001 - International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
- 2001 - International Year of Volunteers
- 2001 - United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations[8][9][10]
- 2002 - International Year of Ecotourism [11]
- 2002 - International Year of Mountains [12] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)
- 2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [13]
- 2003 - International Year of Freshwater [14]
- 2003 - European Disability Year
- 2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [15]
- 2004 - International Year of Rice
- 2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education
- 2005 - International Year of Microcredit [16]
- 2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [17]
- 2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
- 2007 - Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
- 2007 - International Year of the Scout [18]
- 2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year
- 2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year
- (2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth - (N.B. Triennium) - [19] and [20] & [21]
- 2007 - Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia
- 2008 - International Year of Languages
- 2008 - International Year of the Potato
- 2008 - International Year of Sanitation
- 2008 - International Year of the Frog
- 2009 - International Year of Astronomy [22] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
- 2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres [23]
- 2009 - International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02][24]
- 2009 - Year of the Gorilla - [25]
- 2009 - International Year of the Shark - [26]
2010s
- 2010 - International Year of Communications[citation needed], International Year for the Reapprochement of Cultures
- 2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
- 2010 - International Year of Youth
- 2011 - International Year of Forests
- 2011 - International Year of Advanced Skills
- 2011 - International Year of Chemistry, recognized by UNESCO
- 2011 - International Year for People of African descent
- 2011 - World Veterinary Year 2011
- 2012 - International Year of Cooperatives
- 2012 - International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
- 2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation
- 2013 - International Year of Quinoa
- 2014 - International Year of Family Farming
- 2014 - International Year of Crystallography [27] [28]
Decades
- 1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women [29], recognized by the UN
- 1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
- 1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [30], recognized by the UN
- 1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [31], recognized by the UN
- 2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [32] (pdf), recognized by the UN
- 2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade [33], recognised by WHO
- 2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World [34], recognized by the UN
- 2001-2010 - Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa (2001-2010), recognized by the UN
- 2003–2012 - United Nations Literacy Decade [35], recognized by the UN
- 2005–2014 - United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development - [36], recognized by the UN
- 2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [37], recognized by the UN
- 2005–2015 - Water for Life Decade, recognized by the UN
- 2010-2020 - United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification, recognized by the UN
- 2011-2020 - United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, recognized by the UN
See also
References
- ^ http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/customs%5C-challenges/462572/
- ^ "International Day for Ear and Hearing". World Health Organization. 2012-03-03. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/ear_hearing_day/en/index.html. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ "International Day of Action for Rivers". International Rivers. 2011-03-14. http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/day-of-action. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^ "site". 20mars.francophonie.org. http://www.20mars.francophonie.org. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^ "International Day of Happiness". UN. http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/66/Letters/PDF/International%20Day%20of%20Happiness.pdf. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
- ^ "World Day". ASSITEJ International. http://www.assitej-international.org/english/products/world-day.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^ From Gopal Ethiraj - Chennai. "March 20 to be celebrated as World House Sparrow Day". Asian Tribune. http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/03/18/march-20-be-celebrated-world-house-sparrow-day. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^ "World Forestry Day". Food and Agriculture Organization. 2012-03-21. http://www.fao.org/docrep/f3730e/f3730e0c.htm. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
- ^ http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/
- ^ http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/
- ^ http://www.un.org/en/events/mineawarenessday/
- ^ http://www.un.org/en/events/humanspaceflightday/
- ^ http://www.worldeshipday.com/wedun/
- ^ http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/all-events/?tx_browser_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=1522&cHash=c7cfbb2247
- ^ http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/06/no_panty_day_june_22_la_weekly.php
- ^ "Day of the Seafarer 2012". IMO. 2011. http://www.imo.org/About/Events/dayoftheseafarer/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 2012-6-25.
- ^ "UN gives backing to 'Mandela Day'". BBC News. November 11, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8353853.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- ^ http://www.worldsmileday.com
- ^ http://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/about.html
- ^ http://www.egats.org/ATCODay2008
- ^ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_sight_day/en/
- ^ http://www.thinkegg.com/worldeggday.asp
- ^ "Fight Pneumonia. Save the Children. November 12th". World Pneumonia Day. 2011-11-12. http://worldpneumoniaday.org/. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^ http://www.uncaged.co.uk/iard.htm International Animal Rights Day
- ^ http://www.heavymetalday.co.uk/index.htm International Day Of Heavy Metal
- ^ http://planetmosh.com/12-12-12-international-day-of-heavy-metal/
- ^ http://www.bravewords.com/news/185052
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/groups/267079153360238/
- ^ "Vaccination Week In The Americas (2009 portal)". Pan American Health Organization. 2009. http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=750&Itemid=1. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
External links
- United Nations Observances Calendar
- Drori, Gili S., "United Nations' Dedications": A World Culture in the Making?, International Sociology, June 2005.