Celebrating and drawing attention to personalities, works or events that have contributed to the mutual enrichment of cultures helps to promote international understanding, closer relations among peoples and peace. UNESCO therefore participates since 1952 in the commemorations of historic events and in the anniversaries of eminent personalities celebrated by Member States and Associate Members, in order to give them worldwide significance.

Anniversaries 2022-2023

In accordance with the statutory procedure approved by the Executive Board, the Director-General invited the Member States to inform her of the anniversaries of eminent persons or historic events with which they would like to associate UNESCO in 2022-2023.

Circular letter: CL/4323 of 25 August 2020
The deadline for submissions was extended to 15 December 2020

The Secretariat received 77 proposals, submitted by 48 Member States.

60 of these proposals, deemed admissible in accordance with the selection criteria in force upon evaluation, have been submitted to the 211th session of the Executive Board, for its decision, in the document 211EX/30, provided that the Member States concerned submit, within the required time limits, reports on the activities of the celebrations organized during previous biennia.

Member States wishing to appeal had a new period of two months from the end of the 211th session of the Executive Board to reformulate rejected proposals, should they wished to do so, and to inform the Secretariat of any major events concerning the celebration of anniversaries in 2020-2021, so as to submit reports on those celebrations at the end of the period.

Moreover, Member States from underrepresented or unrepresented regions had the possibility of submitting new requests during the appeals period. For the current cycle, this applied to all regions, except for Europe and North America.

Reformulated and new proposals, submitted no later than 22 June 2021, were subsequently examined again by the Intersectoral Committee, and those compliant with the criteria in force, are submitted to the Executive Board at its 212th session (212EX/37).

The list of the 67 anniversaries retained by the 211th and 212th sessions of the Executive Board have been approved by the 41st session of the General Conference (see 41C/Res. 52), list available in document 41C/15.

Anniversaries 2020-2021 

The list of anniversaries proposed by Member States for 2020-2021, as approved by the 206th and 207th sessions of the Executive Board, has been recommended to the 40th General Conference, which approved it (document 40C/15).

Member States who have anniversaries approved are responsible for the implementation of the activities relating to the celebration of anniversaries (from which at least one subregional, regional or international activity), ensure the mobilization of UNESCO networks in the country/region(s) concerned and must submit to the Director-General, on completion of the project, a detailed activity report on the results achieved and their usefulness to the Member State(s) and UNESCO.

As stipulated by the revised procedure approved by the 206^th session of the Executive Board (206EX/Dec.34), Member States should select the most important events prior to celebrating the anniversary and inform UNESCO Secretariat in a timely manner, to allow for their announcement on UNESCO's public website and social media, as well as on the calendar of events. Member States will report on these events, using the results-based format, which will be available online. The results of anniversary-celebration events, linked to UNESCO's objectives and priorities and to the Organization's flagship events, will be posted on the UNESCO website.

The online forms for the submission of information regarding the selected most important events is available under this link.

If the foreseen activities have had to be canceled or postponed due to the health situation related to COVID-19, please inform us accordingly.

Should your country intend to organize a related event (exhibition, concert or conference) at UNESCO Headquarters during this biennium, please:

• inform the Office of Coordination and Field Support PAX/COR, e-mail mo.crutescu(at)unesco.org for public information purposes.
  
  
• make the necessary reservation of space or rooms with the Conference and Cultural Events Management Unit (ADM/CLD/C, e-mail: k.koch(at)unesco.org) well in advance and preferably one year before the date of the envisaged event.

For information/requests concerning the use of UNESCO’s name, acronym and logo, please contact the Publications Unit (DPI/PBM, e-mail: logo(at)unesco.org).

Anniversaries 2018-2019

The Member States having anniversaries approved by the 39th session of the General Conference (check here the List of anniversaries celebrated in 2018-2019 in association with UNESCO) are kindly reminded that they are responsible for the implementation of the activities relating to the celebration of anniversaries and must submit to the Director-General, on completion of the project, a detailed activity report on the results achieved and their usefulness to the Member State(s) and UNESCO. New anniversary proposals cannot be considered until the Member State concerned has provided all of the requisite activity reports.

The online form for the submission by the Member States of reports concerning the celebration of anniversaries with which UNESCO was associated in 2018-2019 is available under this link.  

To access the on-line forms please consult the User Guide available here and connect using the user name and password provided by the UNESCO Secretariat.

Should you have any questions related to the access, please read the related information available on the page How to use this website and/or contact the UNESCO's Support (HelpDesk) Services through telephone during standard working hours (Paris time) by dialing 11 or through e-mail: helpdesk(a)unesco.org.