International observance

This is not a list of National Days, commemorative days, or days which have some significance in one or a very small number of countries.

International observance (also known as international dedication or international anniversary) denotes 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, Economic and Social Council or by UNESCO. In this case, the lead agency for a particular international observance uses the symbolism of the United Nations (UN) or UNESCO, a specially designed logo for the year, and their 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.

List of international observances

Below follows a list of consecutively days, years and decades that have been denoted as international observances by the United Nations. There are also other organizations that declare international observances but those are not as widely recognized.

Days

January

January 1 - Global Family Day - formerly One Day of Peace and Sharing, recognized by the UN
January 1 - World Day of Peace - established by Pope Paul VI in his letter dated on 8.12.1967
January 26 - International Customs Day
January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day, recognized by the UN
January 28 - Data Protection Day - recognized by the Council of Europe
January 29 - World Leprosy Day (UN/WHO)

February

February 4 - World Cancer Day
February 6 - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
February 11 - World Day of the Sick, an observance day instituted by pope John Paul II
February 14 - Valentines Day
February 20 - World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN
February 21 - International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN
February 22 - International Scouts Day
February 22 - World Thinking Day
February 28 - International Pashtun Jirga Day

March

March 1 - International Cat Day
March 8 - United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
March 11 - World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
March 14 - International Day of Action for Rivers^[1]
March 14 - Pi Day
March 15 - World Consumer Rights Day
March 20 - International Day of the Francophonie^[2]
March 20 - World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People^[3]
March 20 - World House Sparrow Day^[4]
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day
March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
March 21 - World Poetry Day, recognized by UNESCO
March 22 - World Day for Water, recognized by the UN
March 23 - World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN
March 24 - International Day for Achievers,
March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN/WHO
March 25 - International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, recognized by the UN
March 27 - World Theatre Day

April

April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
April 4 - International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the UN
April 7 - World Health Day, recognized by the UN
April 7 - International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, recognized by the UN
April 8 - International Day of the Roma
April 12 - International Day of Human Space Flight [1] - an official United Nations day
April 12 - International Day for Street Children
April 14 - Cultural Unity Day, recognized by India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.
April 14 - Dhivehi Language Day, marked in the Maldives and India.
April 16 - World Entrepreneurship Day (WED) site
April 17 - World Hemophilia Day, recognized by the UN
April 21 - World Creativity and Innovation Day. Celebrations begin April 15 - Leonardo da Vinci's Birthday
April 22 - Earth Day
April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN
April 24 - World Day for Laboratory Animals, recognized by the UN
April 25 - World Malaria Day, recognized by the WHO
April 26 - World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN
April 28 - International Workers' Memorial Day
April 29 - World Dance Day

May

May 1 - May Day - Labour Day
May 3 - World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN
May 4 - International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day
May 5 - International Midwives Day
May 6 - International Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)
May 7 - Rabindranath Tagore's Anniversary Day
May 8 - World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day
May 8-May 9 - Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, recognized by the UN
May 12 - International Owl and Pussycat Day celebrating the birthday of Edward Lear and his bicentenary 2012 [[2]] [[3]]
May 12 - International Nurses Day
May 15 - International Day of Families, recognized by the UN
May 17 - World Information Society Day, recognized by the UN
May 17 - Vesak Day Birth of Siddhartha ,Buddhism found and Death of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
May 17 - Vesak Day 2600 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya found of Buddhism
May 17 - International AIDS Vaccine Day
May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
May 18 - International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
May 18 - International Museum Day
May 19 - World Hepatitis 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 23 - World Turtle Day
May 25 - Towel day Tribute to Author Douglas Adams
May 25 - Horse Day Day to celebrate and appreciate Horses
May 29 - International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, recognized by the UN
May 31 - World No Tobacco Day, recognized by the UN
1st Tuesday of May - World Asthma Day
2nd Saturday of May - World Fair Trade Day
2nd Sunday of May - International Mothers' Day

June

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
June 8 - World Brain Tumor Day
June 8 - World Ocean Day
June 10 - Ballpoint Pen Day
June 12 - World Day Against Child Labour
June 14 - World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN
June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN
June 18 - Autistic Pride Day
June 19 - World Sickle Cell Day, by UN Resolution
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 26 - International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, recognized by the UN
June 26 - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the UN
June 28 - International Caps Lock Day
3rd Sunday of June - International Fathers' Day

July

July 1 - Doctor's Day,Bidhan Chandra Roy Birth Day (July 1 in India; March 30 in some other countries)
1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
July 7 - International Cooperative Day, International Chocolate Day
July 8 - Writer's Day
July 11 - World Population Day, recognized by the UN
July 18 - Mandela Day, recognized by the UN^[5]
July 30 - Friendship Day recognized by the UN
Last Friday of July - System Administrator Appreciation Day

August

August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN [4][5]
August 12 - International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
August 13 - International Lefthanders Day
August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
August 20 - Akshaya Urja DIN
August 21 - World Fashion Day
August 21 - International day of Lucid Dreaming
August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, recognized by the UN

September

September 8 - International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN
September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
September 11 - 9/11 anniversary
September 11 - World First Aid Day
September 15 - International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN
September 16 - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, recognized by the UN
September 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
September 21 - International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN
September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
September 22 - (World) Car Free Day(s),world rhino day
September 26 - European Day of Languages
September 27 - World Tourism Day
September 28 - Right to Know Day (RightToKnowDay.net)
September 28 - World Rabies Day
September 29 - World Heart Day ([6]}
During last week of September - World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN

October

First Monday of October - World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN
October 1 - International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN
October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
October 2 - International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN, observed on M.K. Gandhi's birthday
Second Thursday of October - World Blind/Sight Day
October 4 - World Animal Day
October 5 - World Teachers' Day
October 7 - World Smile Day [7]
October 8 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
October 8 - World Egg Day - 2nd Friday of October every year
October 9 - World Post Day, recognized by the UN
October 9 - Global Jamie Day, recognized by the UN
October 10 - World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN
October 10 - World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP
October 12 - CubeSat Appreciation Day, a new initiative
October 13 - International Day for Disaster Reduction, 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 - National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
October 16 - World Food Day, recognized by the UN
October 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN
October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day, [8]
October 20 - International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, [9]
October 20 - World Statistics Day
October 24 - United Nations Day, recognized by the UN
October 24 - World Development Information Day, recognized by the UN
October 27 - World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, recognized by the UN
October 28 - International Caps Lock Day
October 28 - International Animation Day

November

Third Sunday of November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN
November 1 - World Vegan Day
November 6 - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN
November 9 - World Freedom Day
November 10 - World Immunization Day
November 12 - World Pneumonia Day^[6]
November 13 - World Kindness Day
November 14 - World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN
November 16 - International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN
November 17 - International Students Day
November 19 - International Men's Day (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungary, Ireland, Ghana, Canada, Denmark, Austria, England, France, Scotland, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada)
November 19 - World Toilet Day
November 20 - Africa Industrialization Day, recognized by the UN
November 20 - Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN
November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 21 - World Hello Day
November 21 - World Television Day, recognized by the UN
November 22 - International Hug a Dragon Day.
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by the UN
November 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN
November 30 - Computer Security Day

December

December 1 - World Aids Day, recognized by the UN
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 UN
December 6 - World Colonics Day, recognized by the UN
December 7 - International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN
December 9 - The International Day against Corruption, recognized by the UN
December 10 - Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN
December 10 - International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns^[7]
December 11 - International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
December 13 - International Day Day, a meme celebrated by followers of Reddit
December 18 - International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN
December 19 - United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN
December 20 - International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN
December 25 - Christmas

Weeks

March 21–27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
April 25 – May 2 (2009) — Vaccination Week In The Americas^[8]
May 25–31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN
4th week of September - (International) Peace Week
October 4–10 - World Space Week, recognized by the UN
October 24–30 - Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN
October 25–31 - International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, [10]
Road Safety Week - November
Shark Week - Summer

Months

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October - International Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC); www.isaac-online.org; www.aacawareness.org
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

Before 1950

1882/1883 - International Polar Year
1932/1933 - International Polar Year

1950s

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

1960s

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

1970s

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

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 [11]
1985 - Year of the United Nations
1985 - International Youth Year
1986 - International Year of Peace
1987 - International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

1990s

1990 - International Literacy Year - United Nations General Assembly Resolution 104 session 42 International Literacy Year on 7 December 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

2000 - International Year of Thanksgiving
2000 - International Year for the Culture of Peace
2000 - World Mathematical Year
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[12][13][14]
2002 - International Year of Ecotourism [15]
2002 - International Year of Mountains [16] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)
2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [17]
2003 - International Year of Freshwater [18]
2003 - European Disability Year
2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [19]
2004 - International Year of Rice
2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education
2005 - International Year of Microcredit [20]
2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [21]
2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
2007 - Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
2007 - International Year of the Scout [22]
2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year
2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year
(2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth - (N.B. Triennium) - [23] and [24] & [25]
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
2008 - International Year of the Frog
2009 - International Year of Astronomy [26] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres [27]
2009 - International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02][28]
2009 - Year of the Gorilla - [29]
2009 - International Year of the Shark - [30]

2010s

2010 - International Year of Communications, International Year for the Reapprochement of Cultures
2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
2010 - International Year of Youth
2011 - International Year of Forests
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

Decades

1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women [31], recognized by the UN
1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [32], recognized by the UN
1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [33], recognized by the UN
2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [34] (pdf), recognized by the UN
2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade [35], recognised by WHO
2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World [36], recognized by the UN
2001-2010 - Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa (2001-2010), recognized by the UN
2003–2012 - United Nations Literacy Decade [37], recognized by the UN
2005–2014 - United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development - [38], recognized by the UN
2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [39], recognized by the UN
2005–2015 - Water for Life Decade, recognized by the UN
2010-2020 - United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification, recognized by the UN
2011-2020 - United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, recognized by the UN

References

^ "International Day of Action for Rivers". International Rivers. 2011-03-14. http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/day-of-action. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ "site". 20mars.francophonie.org. http://www.20mars.francophonie.org. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ "World Day". ASSITEJ International. http://www.assitej-international.org/english/products/world-day.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ From Gopal Ethiraj - Chennai. "March 20 to be celebrated as World House Sparrow Day". Asian Tribune. http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/03/18/march-20-be-celebrated-world-house-sparrow-day. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ "UN gives backing to 'Mandela Day'". BBC News. November 11, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8353853.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
^ "Fight Pneumonia. Save the Children. November 12th". World Pneumonia Day. 2011-11-12. http://worldpneumoniaday.org/. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ http://www.uncaged.co.uk/iard.htm International Animal Rights Day
^ "Vaccination Week In The Americas (2009 portal)". Pan American Health Organization. 2009. http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=750&Itemid=1. Retrieved 2009-04-29.

External links

United Nations Observances Calendar
Drori, Gili S., "United Nations' Dedications": A World Culture in the Making?, International Sociology, June 2005.