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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), 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.
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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 26 – International Customs Day recognized by the World Customs Organization
- January 27 – International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, recognized by the UN
- January 31 – Street Children's Day
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February
- February 2 – World Wetlands Day
- February 4 – World Cancer Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- February 6 – International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, recognized by WHO
- February 11 – World Day of the Sick Instituted by Pope John Paul II
- February 13 – World Radio Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- February 20 – World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN
- February 21 – International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
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March
- March 11 – World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
- March 14 – International Day of Action for Rivers
- March 15 – World Consumer Rights Day World Contact Day
- March 20 – International Day of the Francophonie
- March 20 – International Day of Happiness, recognized by the UN
- March 20 – World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People
- March 20 – World Sparrow Day
- March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
- March 21 – World Poetry Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- March 21 – International Day of Nowruz, recognized by the UN
- March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day, recognized by the UN
- March 21 – World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA
- March 21 – International Day of Forests, recognized by the UN
- March 22 – World Water Day, recognized by the UN
- March 23 – World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- March 24 – World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- March 24 – International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, 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 25 – International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, recognized by the UN
- 3rd Friday of March – World Sleep Day
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April
- 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
- April 7 – Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the UN
- April 7 – World Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- April 8 – International Romani Day
- April 12 – International Day of Human Space Flight, recognized by the UN
- April 16 – World Entrepreneurship Day
- April 17 – World Hemophilia Day
- April 22 – International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN
- April 23 – World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- April 23 -- English Language Day
- April 24 – World Day for Laboratory Animals
- April 25 – World Malaria Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- April 26 – World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN and WIPO
- April 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work, recognized by the UN and ILO
- April 29 – Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, recognized by the UN
- April 29 -- International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO
- April 30 – International Jazz Day, recognized by the UN
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May
- May 1 – May Day, International Workers' Day
- May 3 – World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN
- May 4 – International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day
- May 5 – Day of Vesak, recognized by the UN
- May 5 – International Midwives Day
- May 8 – World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
- May 8–9 – Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, recognized by the UN
- May 15 – International Day of Families, recognized by the UN
- May 17 – World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, recognized by the UN and ITU
- 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 – International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN
- May 29 – International Day of UN Peacekeepers, recognized by the UN
1st Tuesday of May – World Asthma Day
2nd Saturday of May – World Fair Trade Day
Full moon in May - Vesak
A weekend in May - World Migratory Bird Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP
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June
- June 1 – Global Day of Parents, recognized by the UN
- 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 and UNEP
- June 8 – World Oceans Day, recognized by the UN
- June 12 – World Day Against Child Labour, recognized by the UN and ILO
- June 14 – World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- June 15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
- June 17 – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN
- June 18 – Autistic Pride 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 23 – International Widow's Day, recognized by the UN
- June 25 – Day of the Seafarer, recognized by the UN and IMO
- June 26 – International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, recognized by the UN
- June 26 – United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the UN
- 3rd Sunday of June – Fathers' Day in some countries
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July
- First Saturday in July, July 7 – International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
- July 11 – World Population Day, recognized by the UN
- July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day, recognized by the UN
- July 28 – World Hepatitis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- July 29 – International Tiger Day
- July 30 – International Day of Friendship, recognized by the UN
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August
- August 9 – International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN
- August 12 – International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
- August 13 – International Lefthanders Day
- August 19 – World Humanitarian Day, recognized by the UN
- August 23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- August 29 – International Day against Nuclear Tests, recognized by the UN
- August 30 – International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, recognized by the UN
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September
- September 5 International Day of Charity
- September 8 – International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- September 12 – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN
- 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 21 – International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN
- September 26 – European Day of Languages
- September 27 – World Tourism Day, recognized by the UN and UNWTO
- September 28 – World Rabies Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- September 28 – International Right to Know Day
- September 30 – Blasphemy Day
Last week of September – World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN and IMO
Last Saturday in September, September 29 – World Heart Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
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October
- 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
- October 4 – World Animal Day
- October 5 – World Teachers' Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- First Friday of October – World Smile Day
- October 9 – World Post Day, recognized by the UN
- October 10 – World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- October 11 – International Day of the Girl Child, recognized by the UN
- 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 16 – World Food Day, recognized by the UN and FAO
- October 16 – National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
- October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN
- October 20 – World Osteoporosis Day
- October 20 – International Day of the Air Traffic Controller
- 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 and UNESCO
- October 28 – International Animation Day
First Monday in October – World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN
Second Thursday in October, October 11 – World Sight Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
Second Friday of October – World Egg Day
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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
- November 10 – World Science Day for Peace and Development, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
- November 12 – World Pneumonia Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- November 13 – World Kindness Day
- November 14 – World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- November 15 – Day of the Imprisoned Writer
- November 16 – International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN
- November 16 – World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
- November 17 – International Students Day
- November 19 – International Journalist's remembrance Day, recognized by the journalist community of the world
- November 19 – International Men's Day (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungar, Ireland, Ghana, Canada, Denmark, Austria, England, France, Scotland, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada)
- November 20 – Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN
- November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 20 – Africa Industrialization 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
Third Thursday in November, November 15 – World Philosophy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
Third Sunday in November, November 17 – World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN and WHO
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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 & Social Development, recognized by the UN
- December 7 – International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN and ICAO
- December 9 – International Anti-Corruption Day, recognized by the UN
- December 10 – International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns
- 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
- December 18 – International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN
- December 20 – International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN
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Weeks
February 1–7 World Interfaith Harmony Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/65/5
March 21 – 27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN with A/RES/34/24
April 25 – May 2 (2009) — Vaccination Week in the Americas
May 25 – 31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/91
August 1–7 World Breastfeeding Week, coordinated by the WHO
October 4–10 – World Space Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/68
October 24–30 – Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/S-10/2 (see p. 102)
October 25–31 – International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week,
The week in which November 11 falls – International Week of Science and Peace, recognized by the UN with A/RES/43/61
Global Road Safety Week – held on a different week every year, 2013: May 6–12; coordinated by the WHO
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Months
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.
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See also
References
External links
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