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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, although these 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 4 - World Hypnotism Day - established to promote awareness of hypnosis
• January 6 - World day for War orphans - initiated by (S.O.S Enfants En Detresse - www.soseed.org by Stephen N. Kinuthia)
• January 11 - International Day for Peace in Kenya January 11, 2008. Recent events in the country left Kenyans in fear of their future. The stalemate between the political leaders has created opportunity for destructive forces, and organized militia, which have risen to kill innocent people (more than 450 killed, thousands injured and over 250,000 displaced - initiated by (Kenya Welfare Foundation & Kenya Development Network and Consortium)
• 3rd Sunday of January - World Religion Day - established in 1950 [1]
• January 24 - National girl child day of India, recognized by India
• January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day, recognized by the UN
• January 28 - Data Protection Day - recognized by the Council of Europe [2]

February

• February 2 - World Wetlands Day
• February 4 - World Cancer Day
• February 6 - International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation
• February 11 - World Day of the Sick, an observance day instituted by pope John Paul II.
• February 12 - Darwin Day
• 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 World Tourist Guide Day. International Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh since 1952, when a number of Dhaka university students were killed by the Pakistani police and army in Dhaka during the Bengali Language Movement.

March

• March 4 - World Day of the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation ONG GIPF (site (French))
• March 8 - United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, recognized by the UN
• March 8 - International Women's Day [3], recognized by the UN
• March 14 - International Day of Action for Rivers [4]]
• March 15 - World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
• March 15 - World Consumer Rights Day
• March 20 - International Day of the Francophonie (site (French))
• March 20 - World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People [5]
• March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
• 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, World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN
• 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 14 - Mahl Language Day
• 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
• May 5 - International Midwives 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 10 - International Mothers Daymy bday
• 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 18 - World 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 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

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 Tumour Day
• June 8 - World Ocean 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 - International Picnic Day
• June 19 - World Sickle Cell Anaemia Awareness 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 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

July

• 1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
• July 11 - World Population Day, recognized by the UN

August

• August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN[6][7]
• August 12 - International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
• August 13 - International Lefthanders Day
• August 15 - [[International Mourning Day]/INDEPENDENCE DAY.(India)
• August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
• August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition, recognized by the UN
• August 29 - Telugu Language Day

September

• September 8 - International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN
• September 11 - World First Aid Day
• September 15 - International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN
• September 15 - International Day of Engineers, recognized by the INDIA, In remembrance of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
• 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 - [Peace Channel Day]], Nagaland
• September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
• September 22 - (World) Car Free Day(s)
• September 25 - International Grab Hand Day. Not Recognised by UN, but only those in the GIS Industry, and all associated IT Disciplines.^{[citation needed]}
• September 26 - European Day of Languages
• September 27 - World Tourism Day
• September 28 - Right to Know Day [8]
• September 28 - World Rabies Day
• 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
• October 3 - World Smile Day[9]
• October 4 - World Animal Day
• October 5 - World Teachers' Day
• Second Wednesday of October - International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, recognized by the UN
• October 6 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
• October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
• October 9 - World Post 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 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 - International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, [10]
• 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 25-31 - International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, [11]

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 8 - World Radiographer Day
• November 9 - World Freedom 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, United Kingdom, Malta, South Africa, Hungary, Ireland, Ghana, and Canada)
• 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 21 - World Hello Day
• November 21 - World Television Day, recognized by the UN
• November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by the UN
• November 25 - International Meatless Day[12]
• November 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN
• November 30 - Computer Security Day

December

• December 1 - World Sex Day, recognized by the UN/ WORLD AIDS DAY
• 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 7 - International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN
• December 8 - International Fridge Magnet 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 11 - International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
• 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^[1]
• 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

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
• 1969 - International Year of Love

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 [13]
• 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

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[14][15][16]
• 2002 - International Year of Ecotourism [17]
• 2002 - International Year of Mountains [18] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)
• 2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [19]
• 2003 - International Year of Freshwater [20]
• 2003 - European Disability Year
• 2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [21]
• 2004 - International Year of Rice
• 2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education
• 2005 - International Year of Microcredit [22]
• 2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [23]
• 2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
• 2007 - Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
• 2007 - International Year of the Scout [24]
• 2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year
• 2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year
• (2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth - (N.B. Triennium) - [25] and [26] & [27]
• 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 [28] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
• 2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres [29]
• 2009 - International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02][30]
• 2009 - Year of the Gorilla - [31]
• 2009 - International Year of the Shark - [32]

2010s

• 2010 - International Year of Communications^{[citation needed]}, 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

Decades

• 1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women [33], recognized by the UN
• 1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
• 1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [34], recognized by the UN
• 1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [35], recognized by the UN
• 2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [36] (pdf), recognized by the UN
• 2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade [37], recognised by WHO
• 2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World [38], 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 [39], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 - United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development - [40], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [41], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2015 - Water for Life Decade, recognized by the UN

See also

• Awareness days
• List of commemorative days
• List of environmental dates

References

External links

• UN Library (New York) - UN Observances
• UN List of Most Recent Observances
• UN Observances - a list of observances officially recognized by the United Nations.
• Drori, Gili S., "United Nations' Dedications": A World Culture in the Making?, International Sociology, June 2005.