International observance - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

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

United Nations General Assembly

For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...

, Economic and Social Council

United Nations Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...

or by UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

. In this case, the lead agency for a particular international observance uses the symbolism of the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

(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.

January

January 1 - Global Family Day
Global Family Day
Global Family Day, is celebrated every January 1 in the United States and around the world as a global day of peace and sharing...

- formerly One Day of Peace and Sharing, recognized by the UN
January 1 - World Day of Peace
World Day of Peace
The World Day of Peace is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to peace which is held on January 1, on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God...

- established by Pope Paul VI in his letter dated on 8.12.1967
January 26 - International Customs Day
January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, is an international memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide that resulted in the annihilation of 6 million European Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime.. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly...

, recognized by the UN
January 28 - Data Protection Day - recognized by the Council of Europe
January 29 - World Leprosy Day (UN/WHO)

February

February 4 - World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. It is led by the Union for International Cancer Control, a global consortium of more than 470 cancer-fighting organisations in over 120 countries...
February 6 - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
February 11 - World Day of the Sick
World Day of the Sick
The World Day of the Sick is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church which was instituted on May 13, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Beginning on February 11, 1993, it is celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, for all believers seeks to be "a special time of prayer and...

, an observance day instituted by pope John Paul II
February 14 - Valentines Day
February 20 - World Day of Social Justice
World Day of Social Justice
World Day of Social Justice is a day recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment. The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice.As recognized by the World...

, recognized by the UN
February 21 - International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999...

, recognized by the UN
February 22 - International Scouts Day
February 22 - World Thinking Day
World Thinking Day
World Thinking Day, formerly Thinking Day, is celebrated annually on February 22 by all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. It is also celebrated by Scout and Guide organizations and some boy-oriented associations around the world...
February 28 - International Pashtun Jirga Day

March

March 1 - International Cat Day
March 8 - United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
March 11 - World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film was created in 2010 by Javed Mohammed, a San Francisco bay area based writer-producer and founder of MyFavoriteReview.com, who proclaimed the day and week of March 11 each year as a special observance to share and discuss Muslim culture...
March 14 - International Day of Action for Rivers
March 14 - Pi Day
Pi Day
Pi Day is a holiday commemorating the mathematical constant π . Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 , since 3, 1 and 4 are the three most significant digits of π in the decimal form...
March 15 - World Consumer Rights Day
March 20 - International Day of the Francophonie
March 20 - World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People
March 20 - World House Sparrow Day
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day
World Down Syndrome Day
World Down Syndrome Day , is on 21st April. On this day, Down syndrome organizations throughout the world organize and participate in events to raise public awareness of Down syndrome....
March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws...

, recognized by the UN
March 21 - World Poetry Day
World Poetry Day
World Poetry Day is on 21 March, and was declared by UNESCO in 1999. The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout THE WORLD and, as the UNESCO session declaring the day says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and...

, recognized by UNESCO
March 22 - World Day for Water
World Day for Water
'World Water Day' has been observed on March 22 since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as World Day for Water....

, recognized by the UN
March 23 - World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN
March 24 - International Day for Achievers,
March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day, falling on March 24 each year, is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease...

, 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
March 27 - World Theatre Day

April

April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day
World Autism Awareness Day
World Autism Awareness Day has been held every year since September 09, 1989. It was designated under by the United Nations General Assembly resolution "62/139...

, 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
World Health Day
World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization .In 1948, the World Health Organization held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day...

, recognized by the UN
April 7 - International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, recognized by the UN
April 8 - International Day of the Roma
International Day of the Roma
The International Romani Day is a day to celebrate Romani culture and raise awareness of the issues facing Romani people.-Origin:The day was officially declared in 1990 in Serock, Poland, the site of the fourth World Romani Congress of the International Romani Union , in honour of the first major...
April 12 - International Day of Human Space Flight http://www.un.org/en/events/humanspaceflightday/ - an official United Nations day
April 12 - International Day for Street Children
April 14 - Cultural Unity Day, recognized by India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.
April 14 - Dhivehi Language Day, marked in the Maldives and India.
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
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day
World Book and Copyright Day
World Book and Copyright Day is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright...

, recognized by the UN
April 24 - World Day for Laboratory Animals, recognized by the UN
April 25 - World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day is commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria...

, recognized by the WHO
April 26 - World Intellectual Property Day
World Intellectual Property Day
World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made...

, recognized by the UN
April 28 - International Workers' Memorial Day
April 29 - World Dance Day

May

May 1 - May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....

- Labour Day
Labour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
May 3 - World Press Freedom Day
World Press Freedom Day
The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of...

, recognized by the UN
May 4 - International Firefighters' Day
International Firefighters' Day
International Firefighters' Day is observed on May 4. It was instituted after proposal emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a wildfire in Australia...

, Star Wars Day
Star Wars Day
Star Wars Day may refer to one of several dates or events honoring or involving Star Wars.-May 4:This day is considered an official holiday by Star Wars fans to celebrate Star Wars culture and honor the films....
May 5 - International Midwives Day
International Midwives Day
International Midwives' Day was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world.The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands....
May 6 - International Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)
May 7 - Rabindranath Tagore's Anniversary 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 12 - International Nurses Day
International Nurses Day
International Nurses week is celebrated around the world every 6–12 May, to mark the contributions nurses make to society.-Background:...
May 15 - International Day of Families
International Day of Families
May 15 is the International Day of Families. This was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1992.-Theme:An annual message of the Secretary-General is prepared for wide distribution....

, recognized by the UN
May 17 - World Information Society Day
World Information Society Day
World Information Society Day was proclaimed to be on 17 May by a United Nations General Assembly resolution, following the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis....

, recognized by the UN
May 17 - Vesak Day Birth of Siddhartha ,Buddhism found and Death of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
May 17 - Vesak Day 2600 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya found of Buddhism
May 17 - International AIDS Vaccine Day
May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
May 18 - International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
May 18 - International Museum Day
International Museum Day
The International Museum Day is a celebration that is held each year on or about 18 May. Each year, the Advisory Committee of the International Council of Museums defines a specific theme for International Museum Day.-Themes:...
May 19 - World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day, observed July 28, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment....
May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a United Nations–sanctioned international holiday for the promotion of diversity issues. It is currently held on May 21. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this holiday due to UNESCO's Universal Declaration on...

, recognized by the UN
May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity
International Day for Biological Diversity
The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations–sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues...

, recognized by the UN
May 23 - World Turtle Day
World Turtle Day
The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive....
May 25 - Towel day
Towel Day
Towel Day is celebrated every 25 May as a tribute by fans of the late author Douglas Adams. On this day, fans carry a towel with them to demonstrate their love for the books and the author, as referred to in Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...

Tribute to Author Douglas Adams
May 25 - Horse Day Day to celebrate and appreciate Horses
May 29 - International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
The "International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers", May 29, is "a day to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication, and courage and to honor the memory of those who...

, recognized by the UN
May 31 - World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. It is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe. The day is further intended to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative...

, recognized by the UN
1st Tuesday of May - World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. World Asthma Day takes place on the first Tuesday of May. The theme of this year's event is "You Can Control Your Asthma".- External links :* * – Agency for...
2nd Saturday of May - World Fair Trade Day
2nd Sunday of May - International Mothers' Day

June

June 1 - International Children's Day
June 4 - International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is a United Nations observance each 4 June. It was established on 19 August 1982.-UN Resolution:E-7/8...

, recognized by the UN
June 5 - World Environment Day, recognized by the UN
June 8 - World Brain Tumor Day
June 8 - World Ocean Day
World Ocean Day
World Oceans Day, which had been unofficially celebrated every June 8 since its original proposal in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008...
June 10 - Ballpoint Pen Day
June 12 - World Day Against Child Labour
World Day Against Child Labour
The World Day Against Child Labour is an International Labour Organization–sanctioned holiday for the purpose of raising awareness and activism to prevent child labour in both economic and military fields. It is currently held each June 12...
June 14 - World Blood Donor Day
World Blood Donor Day
World Blood Donor Day is day dedicated to "thanking and celebrating voluntary non-remunerated blood donors". It occurs on June 14, the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the creator of the ABO blood group system, for which he won the Nobel Prize. The first day was held in 2005.One of the main goals of...

, recognized by the UN
June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance each June 17. Its purpose is to highlight ways to prevent desertification and recover from drought...

, recognized by the UN
June 18 - Autistic Pride Day
Autistic Pride Day
Autistic Pride Day is a celebration of the neurodiversity of people on the autism spectrum on June 18 each year. Autistic pride is pride in autism, about shifting views of autism from "disease" to "difference"...
June 19 - World Sickle Cell Day, by UN Resolution
June 20 - World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day, observed June 20 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world.- History :...

, recognized by the UN
June 21 - World Music Day
Fête de la Musique
The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival taking place on June 21.-History:The idea was first broached in 1976 by American musician Joel Cohen, then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed an all-night music celebration at the...
June 23 - United Nations Public Service Day, recognized by the UN
June 26 - International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade. It has been held annually since 1988 on 26 June, a date chosen to commemorate Lin Zexu's dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, just...

, recognized by the UN
June 26 - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – 26 June is held annually on 26 June to speak out against the crime of torture and to honour and support victims and survivors throughout the world.- History :...

, recognized by the UN
June 28 - International Caps Lock Day
3rd Sunday of June - International Fathers' Day

July

July 1 - Doctor's Day
Bidhan Chandra Roy
Bidhan Chandra Roy, M.R.C.P., F.R.C.S. was the second Chief Minister of West Bengal in India. He remained in his post for 14 years as a Indian National Congress candidate, from 1948 until his death in 1962. He was a highly respected physician and a renowned freedom fighter...

,Bidhan Chandra Roy Birth Day (July 1 in India; March 30 in some other countries)
1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
July 7 - International Cooperative Day, International Chocolate Day
July 8 - Writer's Day
July 11 - World Population Day
World Population Day
World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989...

, recognized by the UN
July 18 - Mandela Day
Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each 18 July . The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010...

, recognized by the UN
July 30 - Friendship Day recognized by the UN
Last Friday of July - System Administrator Appreciation Day
System Administrator Appreciation Day
System Administrator Appreciation Day, also known as Sysadmin Day, SysAdminDay, SAD or SAAD, was created by system administrator Ted Kekatos...

August

August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People
International Day of the World's Indigenous People
The International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on August 9 each year to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental...

, recognized by the UN http://www.un.org/events/indigenous/2008/index.shtml http://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-49-214/page_4/rect_97,345_905,448
August 12 - International Youth Day
International Youth Day
International Youth Day is an awareness day designated by the United Nations. The first IYD was on 12 August 2000. As with other political awareness days, such as Earth Day, the purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding an endangered...

, recognized by the UN
August 13 - International Lefthanders Day
International Lefthanders Day
August 13 is designated International Lefthanders Day by Lefthanders International. It was first observed 13 August 1976. As its name suggests, it is meant to promote awareness of the inconveniences facing left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world...
August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day is a day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as part of a Swedish-sponsored GA Resolution A/63/L.49 on the Strengthening of the...
August 20 - Akshaya Urja DIN
August 21 - World Fashion Day
August 21 - International day of Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming
A lucid dream is a dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming. The term was coined by the Dutch psychiatrist and writer Frederik van Eeden . In a lucid dream, the dreamer can actively participate in and manipulate imaginary experiences in the dream environment. Lucid dreams can seem real and...
August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, August 23 of each year, the day designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade. That date was chosen by the UNESCO Executive Board's adoption of resolution 29 C/40 at its 29th session. Circular CL/3494 of...

, recognized by the UN

September

September 8 - International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day
September 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of...

, recognized by the UN
September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on September 10 every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world...
September 11 - 9/11 anniversary
September 11 - World First Aid Day
September 15 - International Day of Democracy
International Day of Democracy
In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe 15 September as the International Day of Democracy and invited all member states and organizations to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner that contributes to raising public awareness....

, recognized by the UN
September 16 - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
September 16 was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.This designation was made on December 19 1994, in commemoration of the date, in 1987, on which nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the...

, recognized by the UN
September 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers , of Albany, Oregon, U.S., who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate...
September 21 - International Day of Peace
International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to peace, and specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military...

, recognized by the UN
September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
September 22 - (World) Car Free Day(s)
Car Free Days
A Car Free Day encourages motorists to give up their car for a day. Organized events are held in some cities and countries. September 22 is World Car Free Day...

,world rhino day
September 26 - European Day of Languages
European Day of Languages
The European Day of Languages is 26 September, as proclaimed by the Council of Europe on 6 December 2001, at the end of the European Year of Languages , which had been jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union...
September 27 - World Tourism Day
World Tourism Day
Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism...
September 28 - Right to Know Day (RightToKnowDay.net)
September 28 - World Rabies Day
World Rabies Day
World Rabies Day is an international campaign coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, a non-profit organization with headquarters in the United States and the United Kingdom...
September 29 - World Heart Day (http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/awareness/world-heart-day/}
During last week of September - World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN

October

First Monday of October - World Habitat Day
World Habitat Day
World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986. The purpose of the day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter...

, recognized by the UN
October 1 - International Day of Older Persons
International Day of Older Persons
The International Day of Older Persons is observed on October 1 each year.On December 14, 1990 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons as recorded in Resolution 45/106...

, recognized by the UN
October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
World Vegetarian Day
World Vegetarian Day is observed annually on October 1. It is a day of celebration established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, "To promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." It brings...
October 2 - International Day of Non-Violence
International Day of Non-Violence
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi. This day is referred to in India as Gandhi Jayanti....

, recognized by the UN, observed on M.K. Gandhi's birthday
Second Thursday of October - World Blind/Sight Day
October 4 - World Animal Day
World Animal Day
World Animal Day is celebrated each year on October the 4th. It started in Florence, Italy in 1931 at a convention of ecologists. On this day, animal life in all its forms is celebrated, and special events are planned on locations all over the globe...
October 5 - World Teachers' Day
October 7 - World Smile Day
World Smile Day
World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday in the month of October every year. The idea of World Smile Day was coined and initiated by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. Harvey Ball is known to have created the Smiley Face in 1963...

http://www.worldsmileday.com/
October 8 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
October 8 - World Egg Day - 2nd Friday of October every year
October 9 - World Post Day
World Post Day
World Post day happens each year on October 9, remembering this date for the establishment of Universal Postal Union in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. The UPU was the start of global communications revolution, people could write to others all over the world....

, recognized by the UN
October 9 - Global Jamie Day, recognized by the UN
October 10 - World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day , is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.This day, each October...

, recognized by the UN
October 10 - World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP
October 12 - CubeSat
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components...

Appreciation Day, a new initiative
October 13 - International Day for Disaster Reduction
International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
The International Day for Disaster Reduction encourages every citizen and government to take part in building more disaster resilient communities and nations....

, recognized by the UN
October 14 - World Standards Day
World Standards Day
World Standards Day is celebrated internationally each year on October 14th. The day honours the efforts of the thousands of experts who develop voluntary standards within standards development organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission , International Organization for...
October 15 - International Day of Rural Women, recognized by the UN
October 15 - Global Handwashing Day
Global Handwashing Day
Global Handwashing Day is a campaign to motivate and mobilize millions around the world to wash their hands with soap. It takes place on October 15 of each year...
October 16 - National Boss Day (Boss's Day
Boss's Day
Boss' Day is a secular holiday celebrated on October 16 in the United States and Canada. It has traditionally been a day for employees to thank their bosses for being kind and fair throughout the year...

)
October 16 - World Food Day
World Food Day
World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945...

, recognized by the UN
October 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN
October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on 20 October, and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease...

, http://www.iofbonehealth.org/about-iof/iof-programs/outreach-education/world-osteoporosis-day.html
October 20 - International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, http://www.egats.org/ATCODay2008
October 20 - World Statistics Day
World Statistics Day
World Statistics Day was celebrated for the first time on 20 October 2010 worldwide. The United Nations Statistical Commission declared the day. , 103 countries celebrate a national Statistics Day, including 51 African countries that jointly celebrate African Statistics Day annually on 18...
October 24 - United Nations Day
United Nations Day
In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly declared 24 October, the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, as which "shall be devoted to making known to the peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gaining their support for" its work.In 1971 the...

, recognized by the UN
October 24 - World Development Information Day
World Development Information Day
In 1972, the United Nations General Assembly decided to institute a World Development Information Day coinciding with United Nations Day on 24 October...

, 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
International Animation Day
October 28, the International Animation Day was proclaimed in 2002 by the ASIFA as the main global event to celebrate the art of animation....

November

Third Sunday of November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims takes place on the third Sunday in November every year as the appropriate acknowledgment of victims of road traffic crashes and their families. It was started by RoadPeace in 1993 and was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in...

, recognized by the UN
November 1 - World Vegan Day
World Vegan Day
World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated on 1 November, by vegans around the world. The Day was established in 1944 by Louise Wallis, then President & Chair of The Vegan Society UK....
November 6 - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN
November 9 - World Freedom Day
World Freedom Day
World Freedom Day is a United States federal observance declared by then-President George W. Bush to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe...
November 10 - World Immunization Day
November 12 - World Pneumonia Day
World Pneumonia Day
World Pneumonia Day provides an annual forum for the world to stand together and demand action in the fight against pneumonia. More than 100 organizations representing the interests of children joined forces as the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia to hold the first World Pneumonia Day on...
November 13 - World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day is 13 November. It was introduced in 1998 by the It is observed in many countries, including Canada, Japan, Australia, Nigeria and United Arab Emirates. In 2009, Singapore observed the day for the first time. Italy and India also observed the day. In the UK it is fronted by...
November 14 - World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes mellitus world and is held on November 14 of each year. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world...

, recognized by the UN
November 16 - International Day for Tolerance
International Day for Tolerance
The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. It is observed on 16 November...

, recognized by the UN
November 17 - International Students Day
November 19 - International Men's Day
International Men's Day
International Men's Day is an annual international event celebrated on 19 November. Inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, the day and its events find support from a variety of individuals and groups in Australia, the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the United...

(Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...

, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...

, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...

, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...

, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

, Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands...

, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...

)
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 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia, or the hatred or fear of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and acts to bring attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community.The Transgender Day of...
November 21 - World Hello Day
World Hello Day
Every year, November 21 is World Hello Day. The objective is to say hello to ten people on the day. By greeting others, the message is for world leaders to use communication rather than using force to settle conflicts....
November 21 - World Television Day
World Television Day
In December 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day commemorating the date on which the first World Television Forum was held in 1996....

, recognized by the UN
November 22 - International Hug a Dragon Day.
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Women's activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women...

, recognized by the UN
November 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is a UN-organized observance. Events are held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, as well as at United Nations offices at Geneva and Vienna....

, recognized by the UN
November 30 - Computer Security Day

December

December 1 - World Aids Day
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...

, recognized by the UN
December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a yearly event on 2 December ,organized by the United Nations General Assembly. The Day was first celebrated in 1986....

, 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
International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day - is an international observance designated by the United Nations since 1985.The declared aim of this activity is to thank the volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness on their contribution to society...

, recognized by the UN
December 6 - World Colonics Day, recognized by the UN
December 7 - International Civil Aviation Day
International Civil Aviation Day
In 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed that 7 December was to be the International Civil Aviation DayThe day had been celebrated by the International Civil Aviation Organization since 7 December 1994, the 50th anniversary of the signing the Convention on International Civil...

, recognized by the UN
December 9 - The International Day against Corruption, recognized by the UN
December 10 - Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.The date was chosen to honor the United NationsGeneral Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the first global enunciation of human rights...

, recognized by the UN
December 11 - International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
December 13 - International Day Day, a meme
Meme
A meme is "an idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture."A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena...

celebrated by followers of Reddit
Reddit
reddit is a social news website where the registered users submit content, in the form of either a link or a text "self" post. Other users then vote the submission "up" or "down," which is used to rank the post and determine its position on the site's pages and front page.Reddit was originally...
December 18 - International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day is an international day observed on December 18 as International Migrants Day appointed by the General Assembly of United Nations on December 4, 2000 taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world...

, 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
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

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
Vaccination Week In The Americas
Vaccination Week In The Americas is an annual effort by the member countries of the Pan American Health Organization to vaccinate millions of people in the region. It was first held in 2003, and was prompted by a measles outbreak in Venezuela and Colombia and proposed as an annual event by the...
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
World Space Week
World Space Week is an annual observance held from October 4 to October 10 established by the United Nations General Assembly to be an international celebration of science and technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition...

, recognized by the UN
October 24–30 - Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN
October 25–31 - International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, http://www.mywalkamile.org
Road Safety Week - November
Shark Week - Summer

Months

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
Movember
Movember is an annual, month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November. The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com...

November events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression
November - National Novel Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month is an annual internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1 and November 30...

People from all over the world trying to each write a 50,000 word novel in a month.

Before 1950

1882/1883 - International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...
1932/1933 - International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...

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
International Women's Year
International Women's Year was the name given to 1975 by the United Nations. Since that year March 8 has been celebrated as International Women's Day, and the United Nations Decade for Women, from 1976–1985, was also established.-International:...
1978/1979 - International Anti-Apartheid Year
1979 - International Year of the Child
International Year of the Child
* Maureen Millicent Bomford founded International Year of The Child and it was endorsed by the United Nations. Maureen was born in Canterbury Punchbowl in 1930 and had four brothers. Her father was a Mayor and she always learned to appreciate the value of leadership. As the wife of a prominent...

1980s

1981 - International Year of Disabled Persons
International Year of Disabled Persons
The year 1981 was proclaimed the International Year of Disabled Persons by the United Nations. It called for a plan of action with an emphasis on equalization of opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities...
1982 - International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa
1983 - World Communications Year
1984 - Year of Women in South Africa http://www.un.org.au/International%20Years.htm
1985 - Year of the United Nations
1985 - International Youth Year
International Youth Year
The year 1985 was proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Youth Year, or IYY. It was held to focus attention on issues of concern to and relating to youth. The proclamation was signed on January 1, 1985 by United Nations Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.-Events:Throughout the...
1986 - International Year of Peace
International Year of Peace
- Recognition :1986 is recognized as International Year of Peace in December 1986, in the UNESCO headquarter, Paris, France.- Actions Taken by the Red Cross:...
1987 - International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

1990s

1990 - International Literacy Year -
1992 - International Space Year
International Space Year
The International Space Year was 1992, the five-hundredth anniversary of 1492, the year of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the New World. First proposed by US Senator Spark Matsunaga, the designation of 1992 as International Space Year was endorsed by 18 national and international space agencies,...
1993 - International Year of the World's Indigenous People
1994 - International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
1994 - International Year of the Family
International Year of the Family
The year 1994 was proclaimed the International Year of the Family by the United Nations General Assembly. Its objectives are promoted by the United Nations Programme on the Family....
1995 - World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War
1995 - United Nations Year for Tolerance
United Nations Year for Tolerance
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 1995 the United Nations Year for Tolerance with UNESCO as the lead organization....
1996 - International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
1998 - International Year of the Ocean
1999 - International Year of Older Persons
International Year of Older Persons
In its Proclamation on Aging, the United Nations General Assembly decided to declare 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. The proclamation was launched on 1 October 1998, the International Day of Older Persons, by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Dr. Gunhild O...
1999 - International Men's Day
International Men's Day
International Men's Day is an annual international event celebrated on 19 November. Inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, the day and its events find support from a variety of individuals and groups in Australia, the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the United...

2000s

2000 - International Year of Thanksgiving
2000 - International Year for the Culture of Peace
International Year for the Culture of Peace
The International Year for the Culture of Peace was designated by the United Nations as the year 2000, with the aim of celebrating and encouraging a culture of peace.- Origins :...
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 Civilizationshttp://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-53-22 http://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-55-23 http://www.undemocracy.com/A-AC.198-2001-3.pdf
2002 - International Year of Ecotourism http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main-Menu.htm
2002 - International Year of Mountains http://www.mountains2002.org/
2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage http://www.unesco.org/culture/unych/
2003 - International Year of Freshwater http://www.wateryear2003.org/en/
2003 - European Disability Year
2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2004 as the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition ....

http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php@URL_ID=13974&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
2004 - International Year of Rice
International Year of Rice
The year 2004 was declared the International Year of Rice by the United Nations, noting that rice is a staple food for more than half the world's population, and affirming the need to heighten awareness of the role of rice in alleviating poverty and malnutrition.This is one of many International...
2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education
2005 - International Year of Microcredit
International Year of Microcredit
International Year of Microcredit is a special event of the United Nations which took place in the year 2005. The event highlighted microfinance as an instrument for socioeconomic development.The year was launched on November 18, 2004.- Goals :...

http://www.uncdf.org/english/microfinance
2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) http://www.wyp2005.org
2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
International Year of Deserts and Desertification
The year 2006 was declared the International Year of Deserts and Desertification by the United Nations General Assembly.-Objectives:The Year's Objective is to spread awareness about the desert areas of the world and especially the problem of desertification....
2007 - Year of the Dolphin
Year of the Dolphin
The year 2007 was proposed and declared as the Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme , along with the UN Convention on Migratory Species, and its specialized agreements on dolphin conservation ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS and the WDCS.-Background:Dolphins are...

(extended to 2008)
2007 - International Year of the Scout http://www.scout.org/en/around_the_world/europe/about_scouting/development_support/centenary_of_scouting_2007
2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year
International Heliophysical year
The International Heliophysical Year is a UN-sponsored but scientifically driven international program of scientific collaboration to understand external drivers of planetary environments and universal processes in solar-terrestrial-planetary-heliospheric physics. The IHY will focus on ...
2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...
(2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth
International Year of Planet Earth
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth to increase awareness of the importance of Earth sciences for the achievement of sustainable development. UNESCO was designated as the lead agency...

- (N.B. Triennium) - http://www.yearofplanetearth.org and http://www.esfs.org & http://www.esfs.org/downloads/PlanetEarthBP.pdf
2007 - Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia
2008 - International Year of Languages
International Year of Languages
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, pursuant to a resolution of UNESCO. The resolution also reaffirmed the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on United Nations websites....
2008 - International Year of the Potato
International Year of the Potato
The year 2008 was declared the International Year of the Potato by the United Nations, noting that the potato is a staple food in the diet of the world’s population, and affirming the need to focus world attention on the role that the potato can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty...
2008 - International Year of Sanitation
International Year of Sanitation
The year 2008 has been declared the International Year of Sanitation by the United Nations in conjunction with the Water for Life Decade.The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. Worldwide there are roughly 2.6 billion people who do not have access...
2008 - International Year of the Frog
2009 - International Year of Astronomy
International Year of Astronomy
The International Year of Astronomy was a year-long celebration of astronomy that took place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova in the 17th century...

http://www.astronomy2009.org (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres
International Year of Natural Fibres
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibres, as well as the International Year of Astronomy.The proposal for this international year originated in FAO at a joint meeting of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres and the Intergovernmental Group...

http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000472/index.html
2009 - International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02]http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/calendar_years_decades_07.html
2009 - Year of the Gorilla - http://www.yog2009.org
2009 - International Year of the Shark - http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org

2010s

2010 - International Year of Communications, International Year for the Reapprochement of Cultures
2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
International Year of Biodiversity
The International Year of Biodiversity was a year-long celebration of biological diversity and its value for life on Earth, taking place around the world in 2010...
2010 - International Year of Youth
International Year of Youth
-Background:In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted proclaiming the year commencing 12 August 2010 as the . The resolution calls upon governments, civil society, individuals and communities worldwide to support activities at local and international levels to mark the event...
2011 - International Year of Forests
International Year of Forests
The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations....
2011 - International Year of Chemistry
International Year of Chemistry
The International Year of Chemistry 2011 commemorates the achievements of chemistry, and its contributions to humankind. This recognition for chemistry was made official by the United Nations in December 2008...

, recognized by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
2011 - International Year for People of African descent
2011 - World Veterinary Year 2011
World Veterinary Year 2011
The year 2011 has been named the World Veterinary Year in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the world’s first veterinary school in Lyon, France, in 1761, shortly followed by the Alfort veterinary school, near Paris, in 1764, both of them at the initiative of French...
2012 - International Year of Cooperatives

Decades

1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/37/a37r058.htm, recognized by the UN
1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People http://www.unhchr.ch/indigenous/decade.htm, recognized by the UN
1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/poverty/poverty.htm, recognized by the UN
2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N01/302/66/PDF/N0130266.pdf?OpenElement (pdf), recognized by the UN
2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade http://www.bjd.org.au/, recognised by WHO
2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World http://www.unac.org/peacecp/decade/background.html, 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
United Nations Literacy Decade
UNESCO leads the United Nations Literacy Decade under the slogan of “Literacy as Freedom”. Launched at UN Headquarters in 2003, the Decade aims to increase literacy levels and to empower all people everywhere...

http://www.unesco.org/education/litdecade, recognized by the UN
2005–2014 - United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
- About the Decade :Based on the proposals by Japan and Sweden, the United Nations General Assembly, at its 57th Session in December 2002, adopted to start the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development , following the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation which emphasised that education is an...

- http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=27234&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html, recognized by the UN
2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/news/a59500/a59500eng.pdf, recognized by the UN
2005–2015 - Water for Life Decade
Water for Life Decade
THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR ACTION ‘WATER FOR LIFE’, 2005-2015The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’...

, 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
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011-2020 the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity . The UN Decade on Biodiversity serves to support and promote implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, with the goal of significantly...

, recognized by the UN

External links

United Nations Observances Calendar
Drori, Gili S., "United Nations' Dedications": A World Culture in the Making?, International Sociology, June 2005.

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