List of international observances
An international observance, also known as an international dedication or an international anniversary, is 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 (UN), Economic and Social Council, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),[1] World Health Organization (WHO) and other United Nations bodies including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In this case, the lead agency for a particular international observance uses the symbolism of the United Nations (UN), perhaps a specially designed logo for the year, and the UN 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.
Below is a list of days, years and decades that have been recognized as international observances by the United Nations, or by other organizations that declare international observances but are not as widely recognized.
Days
Weeks
Week | Name | Recognized by |
---|---|---|
February 1–7 | World Interfaith Harmony Week | UN with A/RES/65/5[115] |
April 25 – May 2 (2009) | Vaccination Week in the Americas[116] | |
August 1–7 | World Breastfeeding Week | WHO[117] |
September 5–11, 2016 | Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week[118] | |
Months
Month | Name |
---|---|
February | Black History Month (USA) |
February | Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month (USA) |
June & July | LGBT Month (USA) |
October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month Black History Month (UK) |
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 try to write a 50,000 word novel in a month |
Years
Decades
Decade | Name | Recognized by |
---|---|---|
2015–2024 | International Decade for People of African Descent | UN General Assembly[152][153] |
2014–2024 | United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All[152][154] | UN |
2013–2020 | International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures | UNESCO[155][156] |
2011–2020 | United Nations Decade on Biodiversity | UN |
2011–2020 | Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism | UN |
2011–2020 | Decade of Action for Road Safety[157] | UN |
2008–2017 | Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty[152] | UN |
2005–2015 | Water for Life Decade | UN |
2005–2014 | Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [158] | UN |
2005–2014 | United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development[159] | UN |
2003–2012 | United Nations Literacy Decade [160] | UN |
2001–2010 | International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World [161] | UN |
2000–2010 | Bone and Joint Decade[162] | WHO, UN |
2000–2010 | Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [163] | UN |
1997–2006 | First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [164] | UN |
1994–2004 | First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [165] | UN[152] |
1993–2003 | Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination[152] | UN |
1990s | International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction | |
1976–1985 | United Nations Decade for Women[166] | UN |
See also
- Awareness days
- List of commemorative days
- List of commemorative months
- List of environmental dates
- UN international days and observances
- World Health Observances
References
- ↑ UNESCO International Days
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 "United Nations Observances, International Days". UN. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
- ↑ "World Cancer Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Radio Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "ADWN?".
- ↑ 1 March - World Civil Defence Day.
- ↑ "World Wildlife Day 3 March".
- ↑ "International Women's Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Oral Health Day". FDI. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ↑ "site". 20mars.francophonie.org. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ↑ "International Day of Happiness". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ From Gopal Ethiraj – Chennai. "March 20 to be celebrated as World House Sparrow Day". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ↑ "World Poetry Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Nowruz". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Down Syndrome Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Forests" (PDF). UN General Assembly. 2012-11-28.
- ↑ "World Water Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Meteorological Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Official WHO health days, WHO.
- ↑ "World Tuberculosis Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, March 25", United Nations.
- ↑ "World Autism Awareness Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Health Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Mother Earth Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Book and Copyright Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Malaria Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Intellectual Property Day". WIPO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day for Safety and Health at Work". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Dance Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ↑ "International Jazz Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Press Freedom Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Families". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Telecommunication and Information Society Day". ITU. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for Biological Diversity". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of UN Peacekeepers". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World No-Tobacco Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Migratory Bird Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Global Day of Parents". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Environment Day". UNEP. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Oceans Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ International Shia Day
- ↑ "World Day Against Child Labour". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Blood Donor Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Refugee Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Yoga". 1 June 2016.
- ↑ "International Widow's Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Cooperatives". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Population Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Nelson Mandela International Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2016". unesco.org.
- ↑ "World Hepatitis Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Friendship". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of the World's Indigenous People". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Youth Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Humanitarian Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day against Nuclear Tests". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Literacy Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Suicide Prevention Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Democracy". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Peace". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Tourism Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Rabies Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ International Right To Know Day
- ↑ "World Heart Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Older Persons". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Non-Violence". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Teachers' Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Post Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Mental Health Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of the Girl Child". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Thrombosis Day | Home". www.worldthrombosisday.org. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "International Day for Disaster Reduction". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Food Day". FAO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ World Vasectomy Day.
- ↑ World Osteoporosis day.
- ↑ "United Nations Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Development Information Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day for Audiovisual Heritage". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Habitat Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Sight Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ World Smile Day.
- ↑ "International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Pneumonia Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Diabetes Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for Tolerance". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Universal Children's Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Africa Industrialization Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Television Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Philosophy Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World AIDS Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Abolition of Slavery". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Persons with Disabilities". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Civil Aviation Day". ICAO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Anti-Corruption Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Human Rights Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Mountain Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Migrants Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Cello Day". wordpress.
- ↑ List of International Weeks observed by the UN, accessed on 2013-02-08.
- ↑ "Vaccination Week in the Americas (2009 portal)". Pan American Health Organization. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ↑
- ↑ Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week
- ↑ "Pulses-2016 | 2016 International Year of Pulses". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ Mittermeier, Russell. "Letter of Endorsement - Year of the Gibbon" (PDF). IUCN SSC PSG Section on Small Apes. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ↑ "International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYLLBT2015)". Retrieved 2014-01-07.
- ↑ "International Year of Soils (IYS15)". Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ↑
- ↑ 2014 International Year of Crystallography
- ↑ "The International Year of Family Farming (IYFF2014)". Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- ↑ "International Years".
- ↑ "International Year of Quinoa (IYQ14)". Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- ↑ "2011, International Year for People of African Descent", UNESCO.
- ↑ "International Year for People of African Descent 2011 – A Year Dedicated to People of African Descent", United Nations.
- ↑ "2011 International Year for People of African Descent", United Nations Human Rights.
- ↑ "2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures", UNESCO.
- ↑ International Year of the Shark
- ↑ Year of the Gorilla
- ↑ http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02
- ↑ http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/calendar_years_decades_07.html
- ↑ "FAO welcomes UN Resolution on International Year of Natural Fibres 2009", FAO, 21 December 2006.
- ↑ Summary of IYA 2009, Beyond International Year of Astronomy.
- ↑ "International Year of Planet Earth", Planet Earth – Earth Sciences for Society.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "2004: Slavery Abolition Year", UNESCO.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly Session 53 Resolution 24. International Year of Mountains, 2002 A/RES/53/24 19 November 1998. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly Session 42 Resolution 104. International Literacy Year A/RES/42/104 December 7, 1987. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ↑
- 1 2 3 4 5 " International Decades", United Nations.
- ↑ "2015–2014 International Decade for People of African Descent, United Nations.
- ↑ "Decade of Sustainable Energy for All", Sustainable Energy For All.
- ↑ The Director-General Launches the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures in Kazakhstan
- ↑ "International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022)", UNESCO.
- ↑ "Government of Sweden hosts meeting of the Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020", United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.
- ↑
- ↑ "Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)", UNESCO.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "What is the Bone and Joint Decade?" Bone and Joint Decade 2010 - 2020.
- ↑ (pdf)
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ " United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace", United Nations General Assembly, 3 December 1982.
- "United Nations Conferences and Observances" (press release), United Nations, Reference Paper No. 47, 20 February 2008.
- United Nations Conferences and Observances
- World Physical Therapy Day 2010