"At a time when the need for humanitarian assistance has never been higher and when there are more refugees and displaced people than at any time since the end of the Second World War, charities play an increasingly vital role in meeting human need.[...] I call on people everywhere to volunteer and act charitably in the face of human suffering."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International Day of Charity, 5 September 2015
A man rests on a bag of rice distributed by Qatar Charity for iternally
displaced people (IDPs) affected by flooding and clan conflict in
Jowhar, Somalia. UN Photo/Tobin Jones
Charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people.
Poverty persists in all countries of the world, regardless of their economic, social and cultural situation, particularly in developing countries.
In recognition of the role of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering within and among nations,
as well as of the efforts of charitable organizations and individuals,
including the work of Mother Teresa, the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution A/RES/67/105
designated the 5th of September, the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.
On this International Day of Charity, the United Nations invites all Member States and all international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner, by encouraging charity, including through education and public awareness-raising activities.