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International Days

These are the international days currently observed by the United Nations. 

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   February   March   April   May   June   July   August   September   October   November   December

 

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

World Cancer Day [WHO]

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

International Women's Day

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)

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)

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

English Language Day 

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

World Tuna Day (A/RES/71/124)

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

World Bee Day (A/RES/72/211)

21 May

International Tea Day (A/RES/74/241) (Draft Resolution II A/74/386)

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/72/281GC 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

World Chess Day (A/RES/74/22) (Draft Resolution A/74/PV.45)

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)

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) (Draft Resolution V A/74/381)

8 September

International Literacy Day  (UNESCO 14 C/Resolution 1.441)

10 September

World Suicide Prevention Day [WHO]

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)

18 September

International Equal Pay Day (A/RES/74/142) (Draft Resolution II A/74/399)

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

World Tourism Day

28 September

International Day for Universal Access to Information (A/RES/74/5) [UNESCO 38 C/70]

28 September

World Rabies Day [WHO]

29 September

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (A/RES/74/209) (Draft Resolution II A/74/381)

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 5.61A/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

World AIDS Day

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) (Draft Resolution A/74/L.38)

5 December

International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development  (A/RES/40/212)

5 December

World Soil Day (A/RES/68/232)

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)

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