List of international observances[edit source | editbeta]

Below is a list of days, years and decades that have been recognized as international observances by the United Nations, or by some other organizations that declare international observances but are not as widely recognized.

Days[edit source | editbeta]

January[edit source | editbeta]
January 26 International Customs Day recognized by the World Customs Organization
[2]

January 27 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, [3] recognized by the UN January 31 Street Children's Day

February[edit source | editbeta]

February 2 World Wetlands Day February 4 World Cancer Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
[3][4]

February 6 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, recognized by [3][5] WHO February 11 World Day of the Sick Instituted by Pope John Paul II February 13 World Radio Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO February 20 World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN
[3] [3] [3][6]

February 21 International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO

March[edit source | editbeta]

March 8 International Women's Day, recognized by the UN March 14 International Day of Action for Rivers March 14 Pi Day March 15 World Consumer Rights Day World Contact Day March 20 International Day of the Francophonie March 20 World Sparrow Day
[11] [3] [9] [3][10] [8] [7]

March 11 World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film

March 20 International Day of Happiness, recognized by the UN

March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN March 21 World Poetry Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO March 21 International Day of Nowruz, recognized by the UN March 21 World Down Syndrome Day, recognized by the UN March 21 World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA March 21 International Day of Forests, recognized by the UN March 22 World Water Day, recognized by the UN
[3][16] [3][17] [3][15] [3][13] [3][14] [3][12]

March 23 World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN and WHO March 24 World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO

[3][18]

March 24 International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations [3][19] and for the Dignity of Victims, recognized by the UN March 25 International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave [3][20] Trade, recognized by the UN March 25 International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, recognized by [3][21] the UN Third Friday of March World Sleep Day

April[edit source | editbeta]

April 1 April Fool's Day April 2 World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN April 2 International Children's Book Day April 4 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the [3][23] UN April 7 Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the UN April 7 World Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO April 8 International Romani Day April 12 International Day of Human Space Flight, recognized by the UN April 16 World Entrepreneurship Day April 17 World Hemophilia Day April 22 International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN April 23 English Language Day
[3] [3][28] [3][29] [27] [3][26] [3][25] [3][24] [3][22]

April 23 World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO April 24 World Day for Laboratory Animals April 25 World Malaria Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
[3][30]

April 26 World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN and WIPO

[3][31] [3][32] [3][33]

April 28 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, recognized by the UN and ILO April 29 International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO April 30 International Jazz Day, recognized by the UN
[3][35] [34]

April 29 Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, recognized by the UN

May[edit source | editbeta]

May 1 May Day, International Workers' Day May 3 World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN May 4 International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day May 5 Day of Vesak, recognized by the UN May 5 International Midwives Day May 8 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day May 89 Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the [3][38] Second World War, recognized by the UN May 9 Europe day May 10- International Migratory Bird Day, North America
[37] [3][36]

May 12 International Nurses Day May 15 International Day of Families, recognized by the UN May 17 World AIDS Vaccine Day May 17 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia May 18 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial May 18 International Museum Day May 21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, recognized by the UN May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN May 22 World Goth Day May 23 World Turtle Day May 25 Geek Pride Day May 29 International Day of UN Peacekeepers, recognized by the UN May 31 World No-Tobacco Day, recognized by the UN and WHO First Tuesday of May World Asthma Day Second Saturday of May World Fair Trade Day Full moon in May Vesak
[3] [3][45] [3][44] [43] [3][42] [3][41] [3][39] [3][40]

May 17 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, recognized by the UN and ITU

A weekend in May World Migratory Bird Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP

June[edit source | editbeta]

June 1 Global Day of Parents, recognized by the UN June 1 International Children's Day June 4 International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, recognized by the UN June 5 World Environment Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP June 8 World Oceans Day, recognized by the UN
[3][49] [3][50] [3][48] [3][47] [3][46]

June 12 World Day Against Child Labour, recognized by the UN and ILO June 14 World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
[3][51] [3][52]

June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized by the UN June 18 Autistic Pride Day June 20 World Refugee Day, recognized by the UN June 21 World Music Day June 23 United Nations Public Service Day, recognized by the UN June 23 International Widow's Day, recognized by the UN June 24 World Young Doctors' Day
[57] [3][58] [3][56] [3][54]

June 17 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN

[3][53]

[3][55]

June 25 Day of the Seafarer, recognized by the UN and IMO

June 26 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, recognized by the UN

[3][59]

June 26 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the [3][60] UN 3rd Sunday of June Fathers' Day in some countries

July[edit source | editbeta]

First Saturday in July International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN July 2 World UFO Day July 6 - World Zoonoses Day
[62] [3][63]

[3][61]

July 11 World Population Day, recognized by the UN July 17 - World Day for International Justice

July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day, recognized by the UN July 28 World Hepatitis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO July 29 International Tiger Day July 30 International Day of Friendship, recognized by the UN

[3][64]

[3][65]

[3][66]

August[edit source | editbeta]

First Friday of August International Beer Day August 9 International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN August 12 International Youth Day, recognized by the UN August 13 International Lefthanders Day August 19 World Humanitarian Day, recognized by the UN
[3][69] [3][68] [3][67]

August 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, recognized [3][70] by the UN and UNESCO August 29 International Day against Nuclear Tests, recognized by the UN
[3][71] [3][72]

August 30 International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, recognized by the UN

September[edit source | editbeta]

September 5 International Day of Charity
[3] [3][73] [3][74] [3][75]

September 8 International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO

September 10 World Suicide Prevention Day, recognized by the UN and WHO September 15 International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN September 18 World Water Monitoring Day September 21 International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN September 26 European Day of Languages September 27 World Tourism Day, recognized by the UN and UNWTO September 28 World Rabies Day, recognized by the UN and WHO September 28 International Right to Know Day September 30 Blasphemy Day Last week of September World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN and IMO
[81] [3][80] [3][79] [3][78] [3][76]

September 12 United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN

September 16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, recognized by the UN

[3][77]

[82] [3][83]

Last Saturday in September, September 29 World Heart Day, recognized by the UN and WHO

October[edit source | editbeta]

October 1 International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN October 1 World Vegetarian Day
[3][84]

October 2 International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN October 2 World Cerebral Palsy Day October 4 World Animal Day

[3][85]

October 5 World Teachers' Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO First Full week of October International Postcard Week First Monday of October World Architecture Day First Friday of October World Smile Day
[88] [3][89] [87]

[3][86]

October 9 World Post Day, recognized by the UN

October 10 World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO October 11 International Day of the Girl Child, recognized by the UN October 14 World Standards Day October 15 International Day of Rural Women, recognized by the UN October 15 Global Handwashing Day October 16 World Food Day, recognized by the UN and FAO October 16 National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
[3][94]

[3][90]

[3][91] [3][92]

October 13 International Day for Disaster Reduction, recognized by the UN

[3][93]

October 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN October 20 World Osteoporosis Day October 20 World Statistics Day October 22 International Stuttering Awareness Day October 24 - World Tripe Day, recognized by the Tripe Marketing Board October 24 United Nations Day, recognized by the UN
[3][100] [3][101] [98][99] [96] [97]

[3][95]

October 20 International Day of the Air Traffic Controller

October 24 World Development Information Day, recognized by the UN October 28 International Animation Day First Monday in October World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN Second Friday of October World Egg Day
[105] [3][103]

October 27 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, recognized by the UN and UNESCO

[3][102]

Second Thursday in October, October 11 World Sight Day, recognized by the UN and WHO Second Saturday of October- International Migratory Bird Day,South America

[3][104]

November[edit source | editbeta]

November 6 International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed [3][106] Conflict, recognized by the UN November 8 International Day of Radiology November 10 World Science Day for Peace and Development, recognized by the UN and [3][107] UNESCO November 12 World Pneumonia Day, recognized by the UN and WHO November 13 World Kindness Day November 14 World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN and WHO November 15 Day of the Imprisoned Writer
[3][109] [3][108]

November 16 International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN

[3][110]

November 16 World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day, recognized by the UN and [3][111] WHO November 17 International Students Day November 19 International Journalist's remembrance Day, recognized by the journalist community [112] of the world November 19 International Men's Day (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungar, Ireland, Ghana, Canada,Denmark, Austria, England, France, Scotland, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada) November 20 Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20 Africa Industrialization Day, recognized by the UN November 21 World Television Day, recognized by the UN November 21 World Hello Day November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by the [3][116] UN November 29 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN Third Thursday in November, November 15 World Philosophy Day, recognized by the UN and [3][118] UNESCO Third Sunday in November, November 17 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, [3][119] recognized by the UN and WHO
[3][117] [3][115] [3][114] [3][113]

December[edit source | editbeta]

December 1 World AIDS Day, recognized by the UN
[3][120] [3][121] [3][122]

December 2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, recognized by the UN

December 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognized by the UN

December 5 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, recognized by the [3][123] UN December 7 International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN and ICAO December 9 International Anti-Corruption Day, recognized by the UN December 10 Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN
[3][126] [127] [3][125] [3][124]

December 10 International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns December 11 International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
[3][128]

December 12 The International Day Of Heavy Metal, a celebration of Heavy Metal & Hard Rock [129][130][131][132] Music December 18 International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN
[3][133] [3][134]

December 20 International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN

Weeks[edit source | editbeta]

February 17 World Interfaith Harmony Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/65/5
[135]

March 21 27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial [135] Discrimination, recognized by the UN with A/RES/34/24 April 25 May 2 (2009) Vaccination Week in the Americas
[136]

May 25 31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by [135] the UN with A/RES/54/91 August 17 World Breastfeeding Week, coordinated by the WHO
[4] [135] [135]

October 410 World Space Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/68 October 2531 International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, [5]

October 2430 Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/S-10/2 (see p. 102)

The week in which November 11 falls International Week of Science and Peace, recognized by the [135] UN with A/RES/43/61 Global Road Safety Week held on a different week every year, 2013: May 612; coordinated by the [6] WHO

Months[edit source | editbeta]

February LGBT Month October Breast Cancer Awareness Month 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 trying to each write a 50,000 word novel in a month.

Years[edit source | editbeta]

Before 1950[edit source | editbeta]
1882/1883 International Polar Year 1932/1933 International Polar Year

1950s[edit source | editbeta]

1957/1958 International Geophysical Year 1959/1960 World Refugee Year

1960s[edit source | editbeta]

1961 International Health and Medical Research Year 1965 International Cooperation Year 1967 International Tourist Year 1968 International Year for Human Rights

1970s[edit source | editbeta]

1970 International Education Year 1971 International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination 1974 World Population Year 1975 International Women's Year

1978/1979 International Anti-Apartheid Year 1979 International Year of the Child

1980s[edit source | editbeta]

1981 International Year of Disabled Persons 1982 International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa 1983 World Communications Year 1984 Year of Women in South Africa [7] 1985 Year of the United Nations 1985 International Youth Year 1986 International Year of Peace 1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

1990s[edit source | editbeta]

1990 International Literacy Year United Nations General Assembly Resolution 104 session 42 International Literacy Year on December 7, 1987 1992 International Space Year 1993 International Year of the World's Indigenous People 1994 International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal 1994 International Year of the Family 1995 World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War 1995 United Nations Year for Tolerance 1996 International Year for the Eradication of Poverty 1998 International Year of the Ocean 1999 International Year of Older Persons 1999 International Men's Day

2000s[edit source | editbeta]

2000 International Year for the Culture of Peace 2001 International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 2001 International Year of Volunteers 2001 United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations[8][9][10] 2002 International Year of Ecotourism [11] 2002 International Year of Mountains [12] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19) 2002 United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [13] 2003 International Year of Freshwater [14] 2003 European Disability Year 2004 International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [15] 2004 International Year of Rice 2005 International Year for Sport and Physical Education

2005 International Year of Microcredit [16] 2005 World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [17] 2006 International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2007 Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008) 2007 International Year of the Scout [18] 20072008 International Heliophysical Year 20072008(2009) International Polar Year (2007)2008(2009) International Year of Planet Earth (N.B. Triennium) [19] and [20] & [21] 2007 Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia 2008 International Year of Languages 2008 International Year of the Potato 2008 International Year of Sanitation 2009 International Year of Astronomy [22] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly) 2009 International Year of Natural Fibres [23] 2009 International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025bk02][24] 2009 Year of the Gorilla [25] 2009 International Year of the Shark [26]

2010s[edit source | editbeta]

2010 International Year of Communications 2010 International Year of Biodiversity 2010 International Year of Youth 2011 International Year of Forests 2011 International Year of Advanced Skills 2011 International Year of Chemistry, recognized by UNESCO 2011 International Year for People of African descent 2011 World Veterinary Year 2011 2012 International Year of Cooperatives 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation 2013 International Year of Quinoa
[citation needed] [137]

2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures