Recalling the United Nations General Assembly resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and resolution 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries.
Calendar of Observances
JANUARY
1 Jan - First Day of the year
4 Jan - World Braille Day
24 Jan - International Day of Education
26 Jan - International Customs Day
27 Jan - International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
FEBRUARY
4 Feb - World Cancer Day
6 Feb - International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
10 Feb - World Pulses Day
11 Feb - International Day of Women and Girls in Science
13 Feb - World Radio Day
20 Feb - World Day of Social Justice
21 Feb - International Mother Language Day
MARCH
1 Mar - Zero Discrimination Day
3 Mar - World Wildlife Day
3 Mar - International Day for Ear and Hearing Loss
8 Mar - International Women's Day
20 Mar - International Day of Happiness
21 Mar - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 Mar - World Poetry Day
21 Mar - International Day of Nowruz
21 Mar - World Down Syndrome Day
21 Mar - International Day of Forests
22 Mar - World Water Day
23 Mar - World Meteorological Day
24 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
25 Mar - International Day of Remembrance of Slavery Victims and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
25 Mar - International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members
APRIL
2 Apr - World Autism Awareness Day
4 Apr - United Nations' Mine Awareness Day
6 Apr - International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
7 Apr - United Nations' World Health Day
7 Apr - International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide
14 Apr - World Chagas Diseasese Day
15 Apr - World Arts Day
12 Apr - International Day of Human Space Flight
20 Apr - Chinese Language Day
22 Apr - International Mother Earth Day
23 Apr - World Book and Copyright Day
23 Apr - English Language Day
23 Apr - Spanish Language Day
23 Apr - International Girls in ICT Day
24 Apr - International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
25 Apr- International Delegate’s Day
25 Apr - World Malaria Day
26 Apr - World Intellectual Property Day
26 Apr - International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day
28 Apr - World Day for Safety and Health at Work
29 Apr - International Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
30 Apr - International Jazz Day
MAY
2 May - World Tuna Day
3 May - World Press Freedom Day
7 May - "Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon
8 May - Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War
12 May - World Migratory Bird Day
15 May - International Day of Families
16 May - International Day of Living Together in Peace
16 May - International Day of Light
17 May - World Information Society Day
20 May - World Bee Day
21 May - International Tea Day
21 May - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
22 May - International Day for Biological Diversity
23 May - International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
29 May - International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
31 May - World No Tobacco Day
JUNE
1 Jun - Global Day of Parents
3 June - World Bicycle Day
4 Jun - International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
5 Jun - World Environment Day
5 Jun - International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
6 Jun - Russian Language Day
8 Jun -World Oceans Day
12 Jun - World Day Against Child Labour
13 Jun - International Albinism Awareness Day
14 Jun - World Blood Donor Day
15 Jun - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun - International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
18 Jun - Sustainable Gastronomy Day
19 Jun - International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
20 Jun - World Refugee Day
21 Jun - International Day of Yoga
21 June - International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice
23 Jun - Public Service Day
23 Jun - International Widows' Day
25 Jun - Day of the Seafarer
26 Jun - International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
26 Jun - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
27 Jun - Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
29 Jun - International Day of the Tropics
30 Jun - International Day of Parliamentarism
30 Jun - International Asteroid Day
JULY
7 Jul - International Day of Cooperatives (first Saturday of July)
11 Jul - World Population Day
15 Jul - World Youth Skills Day
18 Jul - Nelson Mandela Day
20 July - World Chess Day
28 Jul - World Hepatitis Day
30 Jul - International Day of Friendship
30 Jul - World Day against Trafficking in Persons
AUGUST
9 Aug - International Day of the World's Indigenous People
12 Aug - International Youth Day
19 Aug - World Humanitarian Day
21 Aug - International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
22 Aug - International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
23 Aug - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
29 Aug - International Day against Nuclear Tests
30 Aug - Thursday International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
SEPTEMBER
5 Sep - International Day of Charity
7 Sep - Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sep - International Literacy Day
10 Sep - World Suicide Prevention Day
12 Sep - International Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sep - International Day of Democracy
16 Sep - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sep - World Patient Safety Day [WHO]
18 Sept - International Equal Pay Day
21 Sep - International Day of Peace
23 Sep - International Day of Sign Languages
24 Sept - World Maritime Day (last Thursday of September)
26 Sep - International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sep - World Maritime Day
27 Sep - World Tourism Day
28 Sep - World Rabies Day
28 Sep - International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sep - International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sep - International Translation Day
OCTOBER
1 Oct - International Day of Older Persons
2 Oct - International Day of Non-Violence
5 Oct - World Habitat Day (first Monday of October)
5 Oct - World Teachers' Day
9 Oct - World Post Day
10 Oct - World Mental Health Day
10 Oct - World Migratory Bird Day (second Saturday of October)
11 Oct - International Day of the Girl Child
13 Oct - International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
15 Oct - International Day of Rural Women
16 Oct - World Food Day
17 Oct - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
20 Oct - World Statistics Day
24 Oct - United Nations Day
24 Oct - World Development Information Day
27 Oct - World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
31 Oct - World Cities Day
NOVEMBER
2 Nov - International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
5 Nov - World Tsunami Awareness Day
6 Nov - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
10 Nov- World Science Day for Peace and Development
10 Nov - World Immunization Day
12 Nov - World Pneumonia Day
14 Nov - World Diabetes Day
15 Nov - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims(third Sunday of November)
16 Nov - International Day for Tolerance
19 Nov - World Philosophy Day
19 Nov - World Toilet Day
20 Nov - Universal Children's Day
20 Nov - Africa Industrialization Day
21 Nov - World Television Day
25 Nov - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
29 Nov - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
30 Nov - International Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (OPCW)
DECEMBER
1 Dec - World AIDS Day
2 Dec - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 Dec - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
4 Dec - International Day of Banks
5 Dec - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
5 Dec - World Soil Day
7 Dec - International Civil Aviation Day
9 Dec - International Anti-Corruption Day
9 Dec - World Genocide Commemoration Day
10 Dec- Human Rights Day
11 Dec - International Mountain Day
12 Dec - International Day of Neutrality
12 Dec -International Universal Health Coverage Day
18 Dec - International Migrants Day
18 Dec - Arabic Language Day
20 Dec - International Human Solidarity Day
24 Dec - Christmas Day
United Nations Specialized Agencies
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The General Assembly has designated 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. Such days, weeks, years and decades have been proclaimed through the adoption of resolutions by the Assembly, proposed by one or more Member States. As far as international years are concerned, the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67, entitled “Guidelines for future international years”, sets out the criteria and procedures with respect to proposals for future international years. The General Assembly has stressed that the criteria and procedures contained in the guidelines should be taken into account in considering future proposals for international years (see in particular Assembly decision 35/424 and resolutions 53/199 and 61/185). On occasion, prior to the General Assembly proclaiming specific days and years, specialized agencies of the United Nations have adopted decisions supporting the establishment of specific days and years.