List of international observances

List of international observances

Below is a list of days, years and decades that have been denoted as international observances by the United Nations and also other organizations that declare international observances but 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^{[clarification needed]}
• January 26 - International Customs Day recognized by the World Customs Organization^[1]
• January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• January 31 - Street Children's Day

February

• February 2 - World Wetlands Day
• February 4 - World Cancer Day
• February 6 - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
• February 11 - World Day of the Sick, Instituted by Pope John Paul II
• February 13 - World Radio Day, recognized by UNESCO
• 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

March

• March 3 - International Day for Ear and Hearing,^[2] recognized by WHO
• 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^[3]
• March 14 - Pi Day
• March 15 - World Consumer Rights Day
• March 20 - International Day of the Francophonie^[4]
• March 20 - International Day of Happiness^[5], recognized by the UN
• March 20 - World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People^[6]
• March 20 - World Sparrow Day^[7]
• March 20 or 21 – Earth Day
• 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 21 - World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA
• March 21 - World Forest Day,^[8] recognized by FAO
• March 22 - World Day for Water, recognized by the UN
• March 23 - World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN^[9]
• 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^[10]
• 3rd Friday of March - World Sleep Day

April

• April 1 - April Fool's Day
• April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
• April 2 - International Children's Book Day
• April 4 - International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the UN^[11]
• April 7 - World Health Day, recognized by the UN
• April 7 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the UN
• April 8 - International Romani Day
• April 12 - International Day of Human Space Flight, recognized by the UN^[12]
• April 12 - International Day for Street Children
• April 16 - World Entrepreneurship Day^[13]
• 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^{[citation needed]}
• April 22 - International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN
• 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 - Workers' Memorial Day, recognized by the International Labour Organisation
• April 29 - International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO^[14]

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 8 - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
• 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 Nurses Day
• May 15 - International Day of Families, recognized by the UN
• May 17 - World Information Society Day, recognized by the UN
• May 17 - World AIDS Vaccine Day
• May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
• May 18 - International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
• May 18 - International Museum Day
• May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, recognized by the UN
• May 22 - World Goth Day
• May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN
• May 23 - World Turtle Day
• May 25 - Geek Pride 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 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 - International Ride to Work Day
• 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 23 - International Widows Day
• June 25 - International Day of the Seafarer, recognized by the IMO and UN ^[15]
• 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
• 3rd Sunday of June - Fathers' Day

July

• July 2 - World UFO Day
• 1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
• July 8 - Writer's Day
• July 11 - World Population Day, recognized by the UN
• July 18 - Mandela Day, recognized by the UN^[16]
• July 28 - World Hepatitis Day
• July 29 - International Tiger Day
• July 30 - International Friendship Day, recognized by the UN

August

• August 5 - International Beer Day
• August 7 - International Hipster Day
• August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN [1][2]
• August 10 - International Sorry Ranga (redhead) Day
• August 12 - International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
• August 13 - International Lefthanders Day
• August 15 - World Internet Appreciation Day
• August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
• August 19 - World Photography Day
• August 21 - World Fashion Day
• 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 8 - World Physical Therapy Day
• 2nd Saturday of September - World First Aid Day
• September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
• September 11 - 9/11 anniversary
• 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 18 - World Water Monitoring Day
• September 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
• September 20 - International Day of Freedom
• 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 - International Right to Know Day ^[17]
• September 28 - World Rabies Day
• September 29 - World Heart Day ^[18]
• September 30 - World Helping Day
• September 30 - Blasphemy 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 4 - World Animal Day
• October 5 - World Teachers' Day
• First Friday of October - World Smile Day^[19]
• October 8 - 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 11 - International Day of the Girl Child^[20], recognized by the UN
• October 11 - National Coming Out Day^[21]
• October 12 - World arthritis day
• 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 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^[22]
• October 20 - International Day of the Air Traffic Controller^[23]
• October 20 - World Statistics Day
• October 22 - International Stuttering Awareness 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
• October 30 - International Orthopaedic Nurses Day
• Second Thursday of October - World Sight Day^[24]
• Second Friday of October - World Egg Day^[25]

November

• November 6 - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN
• November 8 - International Day of Radiology, anniversary of the discovery of X-rays
• November 10 - World Immunization Day, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogen).
• November 12 - World Pneumonia Day^[26]
• 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 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 Fisheries Day
• 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 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN
• November 30 - Computer Security Day
• Third Sunday of November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN

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 7 - International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN
• December 9 - International Anti-Corruption Day, 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^[27]
• December 11 - International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
• December 12 - The International Day Of Heavy Metal, a celebration of Heavy Metal & Hard Rock Music^{[28][29][30][31]}
• December 13 - International Day Day, a meme celebrated by followers of Reddit^{[citation needed]}
• 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^[32]
• 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, [3]
• Road Safety Week - November
• Shark Week - Summer

Months

• January - InFo-ZoNe Month
• February - LGBTQ Month
• 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 [4]
• 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[5][6][7]
• 2002 - International Year of Ecotourism [8]
• 2002 - International Year of Mountains [9] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)
• 2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [10]
• 2003 - International Year of Freshwater [11]
• 2003 - European Disability Year
• 2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [12]
• 2004 - International Year of Rice
• 2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education
• 2005 - International Year of Microcredit [13]
• 2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [14]
• 2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
• 2007 - Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
• 2007 - International Year of the Scout [15]
• 2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year
• 2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year
• (2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth - (N.B. Triennium) - [16] and [17] & [18]
• 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 [19] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
• 2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres [20]
• 2009 - International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02][21]
• 2009 - Year of the Gorilla - [22]
• 2009 - International Year of the Shark - [23]

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 Advanced Skills
• 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
• 2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation
• 2013 - International Year of Quinoa
• 2014 - International Year of Family Farming
• 2014 - International Year of Crystallography [24] [25]

Decades

• 1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women [26], recognized by the UN
• 1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
• 1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [27], recognized by the UN
• 1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [28], recognized by the UN
• 2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [29] (pdf), recognized by the UN
• 2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade [30], recognised by WHO
• 2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World [31], 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 [32], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 - United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development - [33], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [34], 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; Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, recognized by the UN; Decade of Action for Road Safety [www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/index.html], recognized by the UN