International Days and Weeks to Mark on Your Calendar

International Days and Weeks to Mark on Your Calendar

International Days and Weeks, as designated by the United Nations, serve as crucial platforms to raise awareness, promote action, and mobilize support for various global issues of importance. These observances highlight significant themes, challenges, and opportunities facing humanity, fostering dialogue, cooperation, and engagement on a global scale.

Throughout the year, the United Nations commemorates a wide array of International Days and Weeks, each focusing on specific topics such as human rights, peace and security, sustainable development, health, education, gender equality, environmental protection, and cultural diversity, among others. These designated periods provide an opportunity for governments, international organizations, civil society, academia, and individuals to unite in efforts to address pressing issues and achieve common goals.
International Days and Weeks serve multiple purposes, including:

1. Awareness-raising: By shining a spotlight on particular issues, International Days and Weeks help to increase understanding and consciousness among the global population. They provide a platform to disseminate information, share stories, and highlight both challenges and progress related to the designated theme.

2. Advocacy and mobilization: These observances are instrumental in rallying support and mobilizing action at local, national, and international levels. They empower individuals and organizations to advocate for change, call for policy reforms, and contribute to collective efforts aimed at addressing global challenges.

3. Education and engagement: International Days and Weeks offer opportunities for educational initiatives, public events, workshops, and campaigns to engage diverse audiences. They promote learning, dialogue, and collaboration, encouraging people to participate actively in efforts to tackle pressing global issues.

4. Policy development and implementation: Many International Days and Weeks serve as catalysts for policy discussions, debates, and initiatives within the United Nations system and beyond. They provide a platform for policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and develop strategies for addressing complex challenges.

5. Solidarity and unity: By celebrating shared values, aspirations, and commitments, International Days and Weeks foster a sense of solidarity and unity among nations and peoples worldwide. They emphasize the interconnectedness of global issues and the importance of collective action in building a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

Overall, International Days and Weeks play a vital role in advancing the global agenda for sustainable development, human rights, and peace. They inspire action, foster collaboration, and contribute to the realization of the vision set forth in the United Nations Charter, promoting a world of dignity, equality, and prosperity for all.

Notable International Days and Weeks for Your Calendar

JANUARY

• World Braille Day (January 4)
• International Day of Education (January 24)
• International Day of Clean Energy (January 26)
• International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (January 27)

FEBRUARY

• World Interfaith Harmony Week (February 1-7)
• World Wetlands Day (February 2)
• International Day of Human Fraternity (February 4)
• International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (February 6)
• International Day of the Arabian Leopard (February 10)
• World Pulses Day (February 10)
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11)
• International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism (February 12)
• World Radio Day (February 13)
• Global Tourism Resilience Day (February 17)
• World Day of Social Justice (February 20)
• International Mother Language Day (February 21)

 MARCH

• World Seagrass Day (March 1)
• Zero Discrimination Day (March 1)
• World Wildlife Day (March 3)
• International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness (March 5)
• International Women’s Day (March 8)
• International Day of Women Judges (March 10)
• International Day to Combat Islamophobia (March 15)
• International Day of Happiness (March 20)
• French Language Day (March 20)
• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21)
• World Poetry Day (March 21)
• International Day of Nowruz (March 21)
• World Down Syndrome Day (March 21)
• World Water Day (March 22)
• World Meteorological Day (March 23)
• World Tuberculosis Day (March 24)
• International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations (March 24)
• International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (March 25)
• International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members (March 25)
• International Day of Zero Waste (March 30)

 APRIL

• World Autism Awareness Day (April 2)
• International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (April 4)
• International Day of Conscience (April 5)
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (April 6)
• International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (April 7)
• World Health Day (April 7)
• International Day of Human Space Flight (April 12)
• World Chagas Disease Day (April 14)
• Chinese Language Day (April 20)
• World Creativity and Innovation Day (April 21)
• International Mother Earth Day (April 22)
• World Book and Copyright Day (April 23)
• English Language Day (April 23)
• Spanish Language Day (April 23)
• World Immunization Week (April 24-30)
• International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (April 24)
• International Girls in ICT Day (April 25)
• World Malaria Day (April 25)
• International Delegate’s Day (April 25)
• International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (April 26)
• World Intellectual Property Day (April 26)
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28)
• International Jazz Day (April 30)

MAY

• World Tuna Day (May 2)
• World Press Freedom Day (May 3)
• World Portuguese Language Day (May 5)
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War (May 8)
• International Day of Argania (May 10)
• World Migratory Bird Day (May 11)
• International Day of Plant Health (May 12)
• International Day of Families (May 15)
• International Day of Living Together in Peace (May 16)
• International Day of Light (May 16)
• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (May 17)
• World Bee Day (May 20)
• International Tea Day (May 21)
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (May 21)
• International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22)
• Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon (May 23)
• International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (May 23)
• Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (May 25-31)
• International Day of UN Peacekeepers (May 29)
• International Day of Potato (May 30)
• World No-Tobacco Day (May 31)

JUNE

• Global Day of Parents (June 1)
• World Bicycle Day (June 3)
• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (June 4)
• World Environment Day (June 5)
• International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (June 5)
• Russian Language Day (June 6)
• World Food Safety Day (June 7)
• World Oceans Day (June 8)
• International Day of Play (June 11)
• World Day Against Child Labour (June 12)
• International Albinism Awareness Day (June 13)
• World Blood Donor Day (June 14)
• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15)
• International Day of Family Remittances (June 16)
• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17)
• International Day for Countering Hate Speech (June 18)
• Sustainable Gastronomy Day (June 18)
• International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (June 19)
• World Refugee Day (June 20)
• International Day of Yoga (June 21)
• International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice (June 21)
• United Nations Public Service Day (June 23)
• International Widows’ Day (June 23)
• International Day of Women in Diplomacy (June 24)
• Day of the Seafarer (June 25)
• International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26)
• United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26)
• Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (June 27)
• International Day of the Tropics (June 29)
• International Asteroid Day (June 30)
• International Day of Parliamentarism (June 30)

JULY

• International Day of Cooperatives (July 6)
• World Kiswahili Language Day (July 7)
• World Population Day (July 11)
• International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms (July 12)
• World Youth Skills Day (July 15)
• Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18)
• International Moon Day (July 20)
• World Chess Day (July 20)
• World Drowning Prevention Day (July 25)
• World Hepatitis Day (July 28)
• International Day of Friendship (July 30)
• World Day against Trafficking in Persons (July

AUGUST

• World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7)
• International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9)
• World Steelpan Day (August 11)
• International Youth Day (August 12)
• World Humanitarian Day (August 19)
• International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism (August 21)
• International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (August 22)
• International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition (August 23)
• International Day against Nuclear Tests (August 29)
• International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (August 30)
• International Day for People of African Descent (August 31)

SEPTEMBER

• International Day of Charity (September 5)
• International Day of Police Cooperation (September 7)
• World Duchenne Awareness Day (September 7)
• International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (September 7)
• International Literacy Day (September 8)
• International Day to Protect Education from Attack (September 9)
• United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation (September 12)
• International Day of Democracy (September 15)
• International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South (September 16)
• International Day for Interventional Cardiology (September 16)
• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (September 16)
• World Patient Safety Day (September 17)
• International Equal Pay Day (September 18)
• World Cleanup Day (September 20)
• International Day of Peace (September 21)
• International Day of Sign Languages (September 23)
• World Maritime Day (September 26)
• International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26)
• World Tourism Day (September 27)
• International Day for Universal Access to Information (September 28)
• International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (September 29)
• International Translation Day (September 30)

OCTOBER

• International Day of Older Persons (October 1)
• International Day of Non-Violence (October 2)
• World Space Week (October 4-10)
• World Teachers’ Day (October 5)
• World Habitat Day (October 7)
• World Cotton Day (October 7)
• World Post Day (October 9)
• World Mental Health Day (October 10)
• International Day of the Girl Child (October 11)
• World Migratory Bird Day (October 12)
• International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (October 13)
• International Day of Rural Women (October 15)
• World Food Day (October 16)
• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17)
• Global Media and Information Literacy Week (October 24-31)
• World Development Information Day (October 24)
• Disarmament Week (October 24-30)
• United Nations Day (October 24)
• World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (October 27)
• International Day of Care and Support (October 29)
• World Cities Day (October 31)

NOVEMBER

• International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (November 2)
• World Tsunami Awareness Day (November 5)
• International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (November 6)
• International Week of Science and Peace (November 9-15)
• World Science Day for Peace and Development (November 10)
• World Diabetes Day (November 14)
• International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (November 15)
• International Day for Tolerance (November 16)
• World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (November 17)
• World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (November 18-24)
• World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence (November 18)
• World Toilet Day (November 19)
• Africa Industrialization Day (November 20)
• World Children’s Day (November 20)
• World Philosophy Day (November 21)
• World Television Day (November 21)
• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25)
• World Sustainable Transport Day (November 26)
• International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29)
• Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (November 30)

DECEMBER

• World AIDS Day (December 1)
• International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (December 2)
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)
• International Day of Banks (December 4)
• International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (December 5)
• World Soil Day (December 5)
• International Civil Aviation Day (December 7)
• International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide (December 9)
• International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9)
• Human Rights Day (December 10)
• International Mountain Day (December 11)
• International Day of Neutrality (December 12)
• International Universal Health Coverage Day (December 12)
• Arabic Language Day (December 18)
• International Migrants Day (December 18)
• International Human Solidarity Day (December 20)
• World Basketball Day (December 21)
• International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (December)

Here’s a list of Remarkable and Prominent International Days and Weeks observed by the United Nations:
1. International Women’s Day – March 8
2. World Water Day – March 22
3. World Health Day – April 7
4. Earth Day – April 22
5. World Press Freedom Day – May 3
6. World Environment Day – June 5
7. World Oceans Day – June 8
8. World Refugee Day – June 20
9. International Day of Peace – September 21
10. International Day of Democracy – September 15
11. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – October 17
12. United Nations Day – October 24
13. World AIDS Day – December 1
14. Human Rights Day – December 10