List of International Days, Weeks, Years and Decades for Awareness Creation and Observances
International Days have been around since before the United Nations was founded, but the UN has embraced them as a potent advocacy tool. International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.
The United Nations holds special events on certain days, weeks, years, and decades, each with a specific theme or subject. The United Nations encourages global awareness and action on these concerns by designing special observances. Many actors have the chance to plan events that relate to the day’s topic on every international day.
An international day serves as a launchpad for efforts to raise awareness among organizations and offices of the United Nations system, and most crucially among governments, civil society, the public and commercial sectors, schools, universities, and, more broadly, citizens.
While some observances have been recognized by specialized UN bodies, most have been created by resolutions of the UN General Assembly. The United Nations also marks the anniversaries of significant occasions in its past.
List of International Days and Weeks
January
World Braille Day(A/RES/73/161) – 04 Jan
International Day of Education(A/RES/73/25) – 24 Jan
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust(A/RES/60/7) – 27 Jan
February
World Interfaith Harmony Week, 1-7 February(A/RES/65/5) – 01 Feb
World Wetlands Day(A/RES/75/317) – 02 Feb
International Day of Human Fraternity(A/RES/75/200) – 04 Feb
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation(A/RES/67/146) – 06 Feb
World Pulses Day(A/RES/73/251) – 10 Feb
International Day of Women and Girls in Science(A/RES/70/212) – 11 Feb
International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism(A/RES/77/243) – 12 Feb
World Radio Day(A/RES/67/124) – 13 Feb
Global Tourism Resilience Day(A/RES/77/269) – 17 Feb
World Day of Social Justice(A/RES/62/10) – 20 Feb
International Mother Language Day(A/RES/56/262) – 21 Feb
March
World Seagrass Day(A/RES/76/265) – 01 Mar
Zero Discrimination Day [UNAIDS] – 01 Mar
World Wildlife Day(A/RES/68/205) – 03 Mar
International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness(A/RES/77/51) – 05 Mar
International Women’s Day – 08 Mar
International Day of Women Judges(A/RES/75/274) – 10 Mar
International Day to Combat Islamophobia(A/RES/76/254) – 15 Mar
International Day of Happiness(A/RES/66/281) – 20 Mar
French Language Day – 20 Mar
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, 21-27 March(A/RES/34/24) – 21 Mar
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination(A/RES/2142 (XXI)) – 21 Mar
World Poetry Day [UNESCO](30 C/Resolution 29) – 21 Mar
International Day of Nowruz(A/RES/64/253) – 21 Mar
World Down Syndrome Day(A/RES/66/149) – 21 Mar
International Day of Forests(A/RES/67/200) – 21 Mar
World Water Day(A/RES/47/193) – 22 Mar
World Meteorological Day(WMO/EC-XII/Res.6) – 23 Mar
World Tuberculosis Day [WHO] – 24 Mar
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims(A/RES/65/196) – 24 Mar
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade(A/RES/62/122) – 25 Mar
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members(A/RES/49/59) _- 25 Mar
International Day of Zero Waste(A/RES/77/161) – 30 Mar
April
World Autism Awareness Day(A/RES/62/139) – 02 Apr
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action(A/RES/60/97) – 04 Apr
International Day of Conscience(A/RES/73/329) – 05 Apr
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace(A/RES/67/296) – 06 Apr
World Health Day(WHA/A.2/Res.35) – 07 Apr
International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda(A/RES/58/234) – 07 Apr
International Day of Human Space Flight(A/RES/65/271) – 12 Apr
World Chagas Disease Day [WHO] – 14 Apr
Chinese Language Day – 20 Apr
World Creativity and Innovation Day(A/RES/71/284) – 21 Apr
International Mother Earth Day(A/RES/63/278) – 22 Apr
World Book and Copyright Day [UNESCO](UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 3.18) – 23 Apr
English Language Day – 23 Apr
Spanish Language Day – 23 Apr
World Immunization Week, 24-30 April [WHO] – 24 Apr
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace(A/RES/73/127) – 24 Apr
World Malaria Day [WHO] – 25 Apr
International Delegate’s Day(A/RES/73/286) – 25 Apr
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day(A/RES/71/125) – 26 Apr
World Intellectual Property Day [WIPO] – 26 Apr
International Girls in ICT Day [ITU] – 27 Apr
World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 Apr
International Jazz Day(UNESCO 36 C/Resolution 39) – 30 Apr
May
World Tuna Day(A/RES/71/124) – 02 May
World Press Freedom Day(UNESCO 26 C/Resolution 4.3) – 03 May
Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon(A/RES/54/115) – 05 May
World Portuguese Language Day [UNESCO] – 05 May
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War(A/RES/59/26) ‘ 08 May
International Day of Argania(A/RES/75/262) – 10 May
International Day of Plant Health [FAO](A/RES/76/256) – 12 May
World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP] – 13 May
UN Global Road Safety Week (biennial) [WHO] – 15 May
International Day of Families(A/RES/47/237) – 15 May
International Day of Living Together in Peace(A/RES/72/130) – 16 May
International Day of Light [UNESCO](39 C/Resolution 16) – 16 May
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day(A/RES/60/252) – 17 May
World Bee Day(A/RES/72/211) – 20 May
International Tea Day(A/RES/74/241) – 21 May
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development(A/RES/57/249) – 21 May
International Day for Biological Diversity(A/RES/55/201) – 22 May
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula(A/RES/67/147) – 23 May
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, 25-31 May(A/RES/54/91) – 25 May
International Day of UN Peacekeepers(A/RES/57/129) – 29 May
World No-Tobacco Day [WHO](Resolution 42.19) – 31 May
June
Global Day of Parents(A/RES/66/292) – 01 Jun
World Bicycle Day(A/RES/72/272) – 03 Jun
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression(A/RES/ES-7/8) – 04 Jun
World Environment Day(A/RES/2994 (XXVII)) – 05 Jun
International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing(A/RES/72/72) – 05 Jun
Russian Language Day – 06 Jun
World Food Safety Day(A/RES/73/250) – 07 Jun
World Oceans Day(A/RES/63/111) – 08 Jun
World Day Against Child Labour – 12 Jun
International Albinism Awareness Day(A/RES/69/170) – 13 Jun
World Blood Donor Day(WHA Resolution 58.13) – 14 Jun
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day(A/RES/66/127) – 15 Jun
International Day of Family Remittances(A/RES/72/281) – 16 Jun
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought(A/RES/49/115) – 17 Jun
International Day for Countering Hate Speech(A/RES/75/309) – 18 Jun
Sustainable Gastronomy Day(A/RES/71/246) – 18 Jun
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict(A/RES/69/293) – 19 Jun
World Refugee Day(A/RES/55/76) – 20 Jun
International Day of Yoga(A/RES/69/131) – 21 Jun
International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice(A/RES/73/300) – 21 Jun
International Widows’ Day(A/RES/65/189) – 23 Jun
United Nations Public Service Day(A/RES/57/277) – 23 Jun
International Day of Women in Diplomacy(A/RES/76/269) – 24 Jun
Day of the Seafarer [IMO](STCW/CONF.2/DC/4) – 25 Jun
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking(A/RES/42/112) – 26 Jun
United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture(A/RES/52/149) – 26 Jun
Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day(A/RES/71/279) – 27 Jun
International Day of the Tropics(A/RES/71/279) – 29 Jun
International Asteroid Day(A/RES/71/90) – 30 Jun
International Day of Parliamentarism(A/RES/72/278) – 30 Jun
July
International Day of Cooperatives(A/RES/47/90) – 03 Jul
World Kiswahili Language Day [UNESCO](UNESCO GC 41 C/61) – 07 Jul
World Population Day(A/RES/45/216) – 11 Jul
International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms(A/RES/77/294) – 12 Jul
World Youth Skills Day(A/RES/69/145) – 15 Jul
Nelson Mandela International Day(A/RES/64/13) – 18 Jul
International Moon Day(A/RES/76/76) – 20 Jul
World Chess Day(A/RES/74/22) – 20 Jul
World Drowning Prevention Day(A/RES/75/273) – 25 Jul
World Hepatitis Day [WHO] – 28 Jul
International Day of Friendship(A/RES/65/275) – 30 Jul
World Day against Trafficking in Persons(A/RES/68/192) – 30 Jul
August
World Breastfeeding Week, 1-7 August [WHO] – 01 Aug
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples(A/RES/49/214) – 09 Aug
International Youth Day(A/RES/54/120) – 12 Aug
World Humanitarian Day(A/RES/63/139) – 19 Aug
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism(A/RES/72/165) – 21 Aug
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief(A/RES/73/296) – 22 Aug
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition [UNESCO](29 C/Resolution 40) – 23 Aug
International Day against Nuclear Tests(A/RES/64/35) – 29 Aug
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances(A/RES/65/209) – 30 Aug
International Day for People of African Descent(A/RES/75/170) – 31 Aug
September
International Day of Charity(A/RES/67/105) – 05 Sep
International Day of Police Cooperation(A/RES/77/241) – 07 Sep
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies(A/RES/74/212) – 07 Sep
International Literacy Day [UNESCO](UNESCO 14 C/Resolution 1.441) – 08 Sep
International Day to Protect Education from Attack(A/RES/74/275) – 09 Sep
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation(A/RES/58/220) – 12 Sep
International Day of Democracy(A/RES/62/7) – 15 Sep
International Day for Interventional Cardiology(A/RES/76/302) – 16 Sep
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer(A/RES/49/114) – 16 Sep
World Patient Safety Day [WHO] – 17 Sep
International Equal Pay Day(A/RES/74/142) – 18 Sep
International Day of Peace(A/RES/36/67) – 21 Sep
International Day of Sign Languages(A/RES/72/161) – 23 Sep
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons(A/RES/68/32) – 26 Sep
World Tourism Day – 27 Sep
World Maritime Day – 28 Sep
International Day for Universal Access to Information(A/RES/74/5) – 28 Sep
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste(A/RES/74/209) – 29 Sep
International Translation Day(A/RES/71/288) – 30 Sep
October
International Day of Older Persons(A/RES/45/106) – 01 Oct
World Habitat Day(A/RES/40/202 A) – 02 Oct
International Day of Non-Violence(A/RES/61/271) – 02 Oct
World Space Week, 4-10 October(A/RES/54/68) – 04 Oct
World Teachers’ Day [UNESCO]((27 C/INF.7)) – 05 Oct
World Cotton Day(A/RES/75/318) – 07 Oct
World Post Day(UPU/1969/Res.C.11) – 09 Oct
World Mental Health Day [WHO] – 10 Oct
International Day of the Girl Child(A/RES/66/170) – 11 Oct
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction(A/RES/64/200) – 13 Oct
World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP] – 14 Oct
International Day of Rural Women(A/RES/62/136) – 15 Oct
World Food Day [FAO](A/RES/35/70) – 16 Oct
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty(A/RES/47/196) – 17 Oct
Global Media and Information Literacy Week, 24-31 October(A/RES/75/267) – 24 Oct
United Nations Day(A/RES/168 (II)) – 24 Oct
Disarmament Week, 24-30 October(A/RES/S-10/2 (p. 102)) – 24 Oct
World Development Information Day(A/RES/3038 (XXVII)) – 24 Oct
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage [UNESCO](UNESCO 33/C/Resolution 5) – 27 Oct
World Cities Day(A/RES/68/239) – 31 Oct
November
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists(A/RES/68/163) – 02 Nov
World Tsunami Awareness Day(A/RES/70/203) – 05 Nov
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict(A/RES/56/4) – 06 Nov
International Week of Science and Peace, 9-15 November(A/RES/43/61) – 09 Nov
World Science Day for Peace and Development(UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20) – 10 Nov
World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November [WHO] – 13 Nov
World Diabetes Day(A/RES/61/225) – 14 Nov
World Philosophy Day [UNESCO](33 C/Resolution 37) – 17 Nov
International Day for Tolerance [UNESCO](28 C/Resolution 5.61) – 16 Nov
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence(A/RES/77/8) – 18 Nov
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims(A/RES/60/5) – 19 Nov
World Toilet Day(A/RES/67/291) ‘ 19 Nov
Africa Industrialization Day(A/RES/44/237) – 20 Nov
World Children’s Day(A/RES/836(IX)) – 20 Nov
World Television Day(A/RES/51/205) – 21 Nov
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women(A/RES/54/134) – 25 Nov
World Sustainable Transport Day(A/RES/77/286) – 26 Nov
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People(A/RES/32/40B) – 29 Nov
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare(OPCW C-20/DEC.10) – 30 Nov
December
World AIDS Day – 01 Dec
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery(A/RES/317(IV)) – 02 Dec
International Day of Persons with Disabilities(A/RES/47/3) – 03 Dec
International Day of Banks(A/RES/74/245) – 04 Dec
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development(A/RES/40/212) – 05 Dec
World Soil Day(A/RES/68/232) – 05 Dec
International Civil Aviation Day(A/RES/51/33) – 07 Dec
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) – 09 Dec
International Anti-Corruption Day(A/RES/58/4) – 09 Dec
Human Rights Day(A/RES/423 (V)) – 10 Dec
International Mountain Day(A/RES/57/245) – 11 Dec
International Day of Neutrality(A/RES/71/275) – 12 Dec
International Universal Health Coverage Day(A/RES/72/138) – 12 Dec
International Migrants Day(A/RES/55/93) – 18 Dec
Arabic Language Day – 18 Dec
International Human Solidarity Day(A/RES/60/209) – 20 Dec
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness(A/RES/75/27) – 27 Dec
