List of international days and weeks

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.

The list below includes some days and weeks that have been recognized as international observances by the United Nations:

January

World Braille Day (A/RES/73/161)
04 Jan

International Day of Education (A/RES/73/25)
24 Jan

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (A/RES/60/7)
27 Jan

February

World Interfaith Harmony Week (A/RES/65/5)
01 Feb

World Wetlands Day (A/RES/75/317)
02 Feb

International Day of Human Fraternity (A/RES/75/200)
04 Feb

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (A/RES/67/146)
06 Feb

World Pulses Day (A/RES/73/251)
10 Feb

International Day of Women and Girls in Science (A/RES/70/212)
11 Feb

World Radio Day (A/RES/67/124)
13 Feb

World Day of Social Justice (A/RES/62/10)
20 Feb

International Mother Language Day (A/RES/56/262)
21 Feb

March

Zero Discrimination Day
01 Mar

World Wildlife Day (A/RES/68/205)
03 Mar

International Women's Day
08 Mar

International Day of Women Judges (A/RES/75/274)
10 Mar

International Day of Happiness (A/RES/66/281)
20 Mar

French Language Day
20 Mar

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (A/RES/2142 (XXI))
21 Mar

Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination (A/RES/34/24)
21 Mar

World Poetry Day (UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29)
21 Mar

International Day of Nowruz (A/RES/64/253)
21 Mar

World Down Syndrome Day (A/RES/66/149)
21 Mar

International Day of Forests (A/RES/67/200)
21 Mar

World Water Day (A/RES/47/193)
22 Mar

World Meteorological Day (WMO/EC-XII/Res.6)
23 Mar

World Tuberculosis Day
24 Mar

International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims (A/RES/65/196)
24 Mar

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (A/RES/62/122)
25 Mar

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members (A/RES/49/59)
25 Mar

April

World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139)
02 Apr

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (A/RES/60/97)
04 Apr

International Day of Conscience (A/RES/73/329)
05 Apr

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (A/RES/67/296)
06 Apr

International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (A/RES/58/234)
07 Apr

World Health Day (WHA/A.2/Res.35)
07 Apr

International Day of Human Space Flight (A/RES/65/271)
12 Apr

World Chagas Disease Day
14 Apr

Chinese Language Day
20 Apr

World Creativity and Innovation Day (A/RES/71/284)
21 Apr

International Girls in ICT Day
22 Apr

International Mother Earth Day (A/RES/63/278)
22 Apr

World Book and Copyright Day (UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 3.18)
23 Apr

English Language Day
23 Apr

Spanish Language Day
23 Apr

World Immunization Week [WHO]
24 Apr

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (A/RES/73/127)
24 Apr

World Malaria Day
25 Apr

International Delegate’s Day (A/RES/73/286)
25 Apr

World Intellectual Property Day
26 Apr

International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (A/RES/71/125)
26 Apr

World Day for Safety and Health at Work
28 Apr

International Jazz Day (UNESCO 36 C/Resolution 39)
30 Apr

May

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

World Press Freedom Day (UNESCO 26 C/Resolution 4.3)
03 May

World Portuguese Language Day [UNESCO]
05 May

World Migratory Bird Day
08 May

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War (A/RES/59/26)
08 May

International Day of Argania (A/RES/75/262)
10 May

International Day of Families (A/RES/47/237)
15 May

International Day of Living Together in Peace (A/RES/72/130)
16 May

International Day of Light (UNESCO 39 C/Resolution 16)
16 May

UN Global Road Safety Week [WHO] (biennial)
17 May

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (A/RES/60/252)
17 May

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

International Tea Day (A/RES/74/241)
21 May

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (A/RES/57/249)
21 May

International Day for Biological Diversity (A/RES/55/201)
22 May

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (A/RES/67/147)
23 May

Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (A/RES/54/91)
25 May

Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon (A/RES/54/115)
26 May

International Day of UN Peacekeepers (A/RES/57/129)
29 May

World No-Tobacco Day (WHA Resolution 42.19)
31 May

June

Global Day of Parents (A/RES/66/292)
01 Jun

World Bicycle Day (A/RES/72/272)
03 Jun

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (A/RES/ES-7/8)
04 Jun

World Environment Day (A/RES/2994 (XXVII))
05 Jun

International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (A/RES/72/72)
05 Jun

Russian Language Day
06 Jun

World Food Safety Day (A/RES/73/250)
07 Jun

World Oceans Day (A/RES/63/111)
08 Jun

World Day Against Child Labour
12 Jun

International Albinism Awareness Day (A/RES/69/170)
13 Jun

World Blood Donor Day (WHA Resolution 58.13)
14 Jun

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (A/RES/66/127)
15 Jun

International Day of Family Remittances (A/RES/72/281)
16 Jun

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (A/RES/49/115)
17 Jun

Sustainable Gastronomy Day (A/RES/71/246)
18 Jun

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (A/RES/69/293)
19 Jun

World Refugee Day (A/RES/55/76)
20 Jun

International Day of Yoga (A/RES/69/131)
21 Jun

International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice (A/RES/73/300)
21 Jun

United Nations Public Service Day (A/RES/57/277)
23 Jun

International Widows' Day (A/RES/65/189)
23 Jun

Day of the Seafarer (IMO STCW/CONF.2/DC.4)
25 Jun

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (A/RES/42/112)
26 Jun

United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (A/RES/52/149)
26 Jun

Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (A/RES/71/279)
27 Jun

International Day of the Tropics (A/RES/71/279)
29 Jun

International Asteroid Day (A/RES/71/90)
30 Jun

International Day of Parliamentarism (A/RES/72/278)
30 Jun

July

International Day of Cooperatives (A/RES/47/90)
03 Jul

World Population Day (A/RES/45/216)
11 Jul

World Youth Skills Day (A/RES/69/145)
15 Jul

Nelson Mandela International Day (A/RES/64/13)
18 Jul

World Chess Day (A/RES/74/22)
20 Jul

World Drowning Prevention Day (A/RES/75/273)
25 Jul

World Hepatitis Day
28 Jul

World Day against Trafficking in Persons (A/RES/68/192)
30 Jul

International Day of Friendship (A/RES/65/275)
30 Jul

August

World Breastfeeding Week [WHO]
01 Aug

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (A/RES/49/214)
09 Aug

International Youth Day (A/RES/54/120)
12 Aug

World Humanitarian Day (A/RES/63/139) 
19 Aug

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism (A/RES/72/165)
21 Aug

International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (A/RES/73/296)
22 Aug

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition (UNESCO 29 C/Resolution 40))
23 Aug

International Day against Nuclear Tests (A/RES/64/35)
29 Aug

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (A/RES/65/209)
30 Aug

International Day for People of African Descent (A/RES/75/170)
31 Aug

September

International Day of Charity (A/RES/67/105)
05 Sep

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (A/RES/74/212)
07 Sep

International Literacy Day (UNESCO 14 C/Resolution 1.441)
08 Sep

International Day to Protect Education from Attack (A/RES/74/275)
09 Sep

United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation (A/RES/58/220)
12 Sep

International Day of Democracy (A/RES/62/7)
15 Sep

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (A/RES/49/114)
16 Sep

World Patient Safety Day
17 Sep

International Equal Pay Day (A/RES/74/142)
18 Sep

International Day of Peace (A/RES/36/67 & )
21 Sep

International Day of Sign Languages (A/RES/72/161)
23 Sep

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (A/RES/68/32)
26 Sep

World Tourism Day
27 Sep

International Day for Universal Access to Information (A/RES/74/5)
28 Sep

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (A/RES/74/209)
29 Sep

World Maritime Day (IMCO/C XXXVIII/21)
30 Sep

International Translation Day (A/RES/71/288)
30 Sep

October

International Day of Older Persons (A/RES/45/106)
01 Oct

World Statistics Day (A/RES/69/282)
02 Oct

International Day of Non-Violence (A/RES/61/271)
02 Oct

World Habitat Day (A/RES/40/202 A)
04 Oct

World Space Week (A/RES/54/68)
04 Oct

World Teachers’ Day (UNESCO 27 C/INF.7))
05 Oct

World Cotton Day (A/RES/75/318)
07 Oct

World Migratory Bird Day
09 Oct

World Post Day (UPU/1969/Res.C.11)
09 Oct

World Mental Health Day
10 Oct

International Day of the Girl Child (A/RES/66/170)
11 Oct

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (A/RES/64/200)
13 Oct

International Day of Rural Women (A/RES/62/136)
15 Oct

World Food Day (A/RES/35/70)
16 Oct

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (A/RES/47/196)
17 Oct

Global Media and Information Literacy Week (A/RES/75/267)
24 Oct

United Nations Day (A/RES/168 (II))
24 Oct

Disarmament Week (A/RES/S-10/2 (p. 102))
24 Oct

World Development Information Day (A/RES/3038 (XXVII))
24 Oct

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UNESCO 33/C/Resolution 5)
27 Oct

World Cities Day (A/RES/68/239)
31 Oct

November

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (A/RES/68/163)
02 Nov

World Tsunami Awareness Day (A/RES/70/203)
05 Nov

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (A/RES/56/4)
06 Nov

International Week of Science and Peace (A/RES/43/61)
09 Nov

World Science Day for Peace and Development (UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20)
10 Nov

World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November [WHO]
13 Nov

World Diabetes Day (A/RES/61/225)
14 Nov

International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 5.61)
16 Nov

World Philosophy Day (UNESCO 33 C/Resolution 37)
18 Nov

World Toilet Day (A/RES/67/291)
19 Nov

World Children's Day (A/RES/836(IX))
20 Nov

Africa Industrialization Day (A/RES/44/237)
20 Nov

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (A/RES/60/5)
21 Nov

World Television Day (A/RES/51/205)
21 Nov

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (A/RES/54/134)
25 Nov

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (A/RES/32/40B)
29 Nov

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (OPCW C-20/DEC.10)
30 Nov

December

World AIDS Day
01 Dec

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (A/RES/317(IV))
02 Dec

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (A/RES/47/3)
03 Dec

International Day of Banks (A/RES/74/245)
04 Dec

World Soil Day (A/RES/68/232)
05 Dec

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

International Civil Aviation Day (A/RES/51/33)
07 Dec

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)
09 Dec

International Anti-Corruption Day (A/RES/58/4)
09 Dec

Human Rights Day (A/RES/423 (V))
10 Dec

International Mountain Day (A/RES/57/245)
11 Dec

International Day of Neutrality (A/RES/71/275)
12 Dec

International Universal Health Coverage Day (A/RES/72/138)
12 Dec

International Migrants Day (A/RES/55/93)
18 Dec

Arabic Language Day
18 Dec

International Human Solidarity Day (A/RES/60/209)
20 Dec

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (A/RES/75/27)
27 Dec



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