List of International observances
An international observance, also known as an international dedication or an international anniversary, is 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 (UN), Economic and Social Council, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),[1] World Health Organization (WHO) and other United Nations bodies including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In this case, the lead agency for a particular international observance uses the symbolism of the United Nations (UN), perhaps a specially designed logo for the year, and the UN 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.
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
Weeks
Week | Name | Recognized by |
---|---|---|
February 1–7 | World Interfaith Harmony Week | UN with A/RES/65/5[113] |
April 25 – May 2 (2009) | Vaccination Week in the Americas[114] | |
August 1–7 | World Breastfeeding Week | WHO |
September 5–11, 2016 | Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week | |
Months
Month | Name |
---|---|
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
Year | Name |
---|---|
2016 | International Year of Pulses[115] |
2015 | Year of the Gibbon[116] |
2015 | International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies[117] |
2015 | International Year of Soils[118] |
2014 | International Year of Crystallography[119][120] |
2014 | International Year of Family Farming[121] |
2014 | International Year of Small Island Developing States[122] |
2013 | International Year of Quinoa[123] |
2012 | Alan Turing Year |
2011 | World Veterinary Year 2011 |
2011 | International Year for People of African Descent, recognized by UNESCO, proclaimed by UN on December 18, 2009[124][125][126] |
2011 | International Year of Chemistry, recognized by UNESCO |
2011 | International Year of Advanced Skills |
2011 | International Year of Forests |
2010 | International Year of Youth |
2010 | International Year of Biodiversity |
2010 | International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures[127] |
2010 | International Year of Communications |
2000s | |
2009 | International Year of the Shark – |
2009 | Year of the Gorilla – |
2009 | International Year of Reconciliation[128][129] |
2009 | International Year of Natural Fibres[130] |
2009 | International Year of Astronomy[131] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly) |
2008 | International Year of Sanitation |
2008 | International Year of the Potato |
2008 | International Year of Languages |
2007 | Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia |
(2007)–2008–(2009) | International Year of Planet Earth – (N.B. Triennium)[132] |
2007–2008–(2009) | International Polar Year |
2007–2008 | International Heliophysical Year |
2007 | International Year of the Scout |
2007 | Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008) |
2006 | International Year of Deserts and Desertification |
2005 | World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) |
2005 | International Year of Microcredit |
2005 | International Year for Sport and Physical Education |
2004 | International Year of Rice |
2004 | International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition[133] |
2003 | European Disability Year |
2003 | International Year of Freshwater |
2002 | United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage |
2002 | International Year of Mountains[134] |
2002 | International Year of Ecotourism[135] |
2001 | United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations |
2001 | International Year of Volunteers |
2001 | International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance |
2000 | International Year for the Culture of Peace |
1990s | |
1999 | International Men's Day |
1999 | International Year of Older Persons |
1998 | International Year of the Ocean |
1996 | International Year for the Eradication of Poverty |
1995 | United Nations Year for Tolerance |
1995 | World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War |
1994 | International Year of the Family |
1994 | International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal |
1993 | International Year of the World's Indigenous People |
1992 | International Space Year |
1990 | International Literacy Year[136] |
1980s | |
1987 | International Year of Shelter for the Homeless |
1986 | International Year of Peace |
1985 | International Youth Year |
1985 | Year of the United Nations |
1984 | Year of Women in South Africa |
1983 | World Communications Year |
1982 | International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa |
1981 | International Year of Disabled Persons |
1970s | |
1979 | International Year of the Child |
1978/1979 | International Anti-Apartheid Year |
1975 | International Women's Year |
1974 | World Population Year |
1971 | International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination |
1970 | International Education Year |
1960s | |
1968 | International Year for Human Rights |
1967 | International Tourist Year |
1965 | International Cooperation Year |
1961 | International Health and Medical Research Year |
1950s | |
1959/1960 | World Refugee Year |
1957/1958 | International Geophysical Year |
Before 1950 | |
1932/1933 | International Polar Year |
1882/1883 | International Polar Year |
Decades
Decade | Name | Recognized by |
---|---|---|
2015–2024 | International Decade for People of African Descent | UN General Assembly[137][138] |
2014–2024 | United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All[137][139] | UN |
2013–2020 | International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures | UNESCO[140][141] |
2011–2020 | United Nations Decade on Biodiversity | UN |
2011–2020 | Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; | UN |
2011–2020 | Decade of Action for Road Safety[142] | UN |
2010–2020 | United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification | UN |
2008–2017 | Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty[137] | UN |
2005–2015 | Water for Life Decade | UN |
2005–2014 | Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People | UN |
2005–2014 | United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development[143] | UN |
2003–2012 | United Nations Literacy Decade | UN |
2001–2010 | Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa (2001–2010) | UN |
2001–2010 | International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World | UN |
2000–2010 | Bone and Joint Decade[144] | WHO, UN |
2000–2010 | Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (pdf) | UN |
1997–2006 | First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty | UN |
1994–2004 | First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People | UN[137] |
1993–2003 | Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination[137] | UN |
1990s | International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction | |
1976–1985 | United Nations Decade for Women[145] | UN |
See also
References
- ↑ UNESCO International Days
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 "United Nations Observances, International Days". UN. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
- ↑ "World Cancer Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Radio Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "ADWN?".
- ↑ 1 March - World Civil Defence Day.
- ↑ "World Wildlife Day 3 March".
- ↑ "International Women's Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Oral Health Day". FDI. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ↑ "site". 20mars.francophonie.org. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ↑ "International Day of Happiness". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ From Gopal Ethiraj – Chennai. "March 20 to be celebrated as World House Sparrow Day". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ↑ "World Poetry Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Nowruz". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Down Syndrome Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Forests" (PDF). UN General Assembly. 2012-11-28.
- ↑ "World Water Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Meteorological Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Official WHO health days, WHO.
- ↑ "World Tuberculosis Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, March 25", United Nations.
- ↑ "World Autism Awareness Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Health Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Mother Earth Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Book and Copyright Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Malaria Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Intellectual Property Day". WIPO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day for Safety and Health at Work". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Dance Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ↑ "International Jazz Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Press Freedom Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Families". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Telecommunication and Information Society Day". ITU. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for Biological Diversity". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of UN Peacekeepers". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World No-Tobacco Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Migratory Bird Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Global Day of Parents". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Environment Day". UNEP. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Oceans Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day Against Child Labour". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑
- ↑ "International Shia Day". Shia Rights Watch. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
- ↑ "World Blood Donor Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Refugee Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Widow's Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Cooperatives". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Population Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Nelson Mandela International Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Hepatitis Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Friendship". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of the World's Indigenous People". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Youth Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Humanitarian Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day against Nuclear Tests". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Literacy Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Suicide Prevention Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Democracy". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Peace". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Tourism Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Rabies Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ International Right To Know Day
- ↑ "World Heart Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Older Persons". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Non-Violence". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Teachers' Day". UNESCO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Post Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Mental Health Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of the Girl Child". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Thrombosis Day | Home". www.worldthrombosisday.org. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "International Day for Disaster Reduction". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Food Day". FAO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ World Vasectomy Day.
- ↑ World Osteoporosis day.
- ↑ "United Nations Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Development Information Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day for Audiovisual Heritage". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Habitat Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Sight Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ World Smile Day.
- ↑ "International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Pneumonia Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Diabetes Day". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for Tolerance". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Universal Children's Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Africa Industrialization Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Television Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Philosophy Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims". WHO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "World AIDS Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day for the Abolition of Slavery". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Day of Persons with Disabilities". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Civil Aviation Day". ICAO. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Anti-Corruption Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "Human Rights Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Mountain Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ "International Migrants Day". UN. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ↑ List of International Weeks observed by the UN, accessed on 2013-02-08.
- ↑ "Vaccination Week in the Americas (2009 portal)". Pan American Health Organization. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ↑ "Pulses-2016 | 2016 International Year of Pulses". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ Mittermeier, Russell. "Letter of Endorsement - Year of the Gibbon" (PDF). IUCN SSC PSG Section on Small Apes. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ↑ "International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYLLBT2015)". Retrieved 2014-01-07.
- ↑ "International Year of Soils (IYS15)". Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ↑
- ↑ 2014 International Year of Crystallography
- ↑ "The International Year of Family Farming (IYFF2014)". Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- ↑ "International Years".
- ↑ "International Year of Quinoa (IYQ14)". Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- ↑ "2011, International Year for People of African Descent", UNESCO.
- ↑ "International Year for People of African Descent 2011 – A Year Dedicated to People of African Descent", United Nations.
- ↑ "2011 International Year for People of African Descent", United Nations Human Rights.
- ↑ "2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures", UNESCO.
- ↑ http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02
- ↑ http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/calendar_years_decades_07.html
- ↑ "FAO welcomes UN Resolution on International Year of Natural Fibres 2009", FAO, 21 December 2006.
- ↑ Summary of IYA 2009, Beyond International Year of Astronomy.
- ↑ "International Year of Planet Earth", Planet Earth – Earth Sciences for Society.
- ↑
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly Session 53 Resolution 24. A/RES/53/24 Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ↑
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly Session 42 Resolution 104. International Literacy Year A/RES/42/104 December 7, 1987. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- 1 2 3 4 5 " International Decades", United Nations.
- ↑ "2015–2014 International Decade for People of African Descent, United Nations.
- ↑ "Decade of Sustainable Energy for All", Sustainable Energy For All.
- ↑ The Director-General Launches the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures in Kazakhstan
- ↑ "International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022)", UNESCO.
- ↑ "Government of Sweden hosts meeting of the Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020", United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.
- ↑ "Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)", UNESCO.
- ↑ "What is the Bone and Joint Decade?" Bone and Joint Decade 2010 - 2020.
- ↑ " United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace", United Nations General Assembly, 3 December 1982.
External links
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