World Days

January[edit]
January 4 - World Braille Day
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,

[4]
recognized by the UN
January 31 Street Children's Day
[2]
[3]
February[edit]
February 2 World Wetlands Day
February 4 World Cancer Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][5]
February 6 -- International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, recognized by

WHO[4][6]
February 11 World Day of the Sick Instituted by Pope John Paul II
February 13 World Radio Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][7]
February 20 World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN
February 21 International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
February 21 International Human Rights Commission Constitution Day, recognized by the

IHRC[4]
[4]
[4]
March[edit]
March 1 - World Civil Defence Day[8]
March 8 International Women's Day, recognized by the UN[9]
March 11 World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
March 14 International Day of Action for Rivers[10]
March 14 Pi Day
March 15 World Consumer Rights Day World Contact Day
March 20 International Day of the Francophonie[11]
March 20 International Day of Happiness, recognized by the UN[4][12]
March 20 World Sparrow Day[13]
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[4][14]
March 21 International Day of Nowruz, recognized by the UN[4][15]
March 21 World Down Syndrome Day, recognized by the UN[4][16]
March 21 World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA
March 21 International Day of Forests, recognized by the UN[4][17]
March 22 World Water Day, recognized by the UN
March 22 World Mime Day
March 23 World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
March 24 World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][20]
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[4][21]
March 25 International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic
[4][22]
Slave Trade, recognized by the UN
[4]
[4][18]
[4][19]
March 25 International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, recognized
by the UN[4][23]
March 27 - World Theatre Day
Third Friday of March World Sleep Day
April[edit]
April 1 April Fool's Day
April 2 World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
April 2 International Children's Book Day
April 4 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the
[4][25]
UN
April 7 Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the
[4][26]
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[4][28]
April 16 World Entrepreneurship Day[29]
April 17 World Hemophilia Day
April 18 International Day on Monuments and Sites/World Heritage Day
April 22 International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN[4][30]
April 23 World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][31]
April 23 English Language Day[4]
April 24 World Day for Laboratory Animals
April 25 World Malaria Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][32]
April 26 World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN and WIPO[4][33]
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[4][35]
April 29 International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO[36]
April 30 International Jazz Day, recognized by the UN
[4][24]
[4][27]
[4][34]
[4][37]
May[edit]
May 1 May Day, International Workers' Day
May 3 World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN[4][38]
May 4 International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day
May 5 Day of Vesak, recognized by the UN[39]
May 5 International Midwives Day
May 8 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
May 89 Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the
Second World War, recognized by the UN[4][40]
May 9 Europe day
May 10-International Migratory Bird Day, North America
May 12 International Nurses Day
May 15 International Day of Families, recognized by the UN[4][41]
May 17 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, recognized by the UN and
[4][42]
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[4][43]
May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN[4][44]
May 22 World Goth Day
May 23 World Turtle Day
May 25 Geek Pride Day, Towel Day
May 29 Pashto Day
May 29 International Day of UN Peacekeepers, recognized by the UN
May 31 World No-Tobacco Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
First Tuesday of May World Asthma Day
Second Saturday of May World Fair Trade Day
Full moon in May Vesak[4]
A weekend in May World Migratory Bird Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP[4][48]
[45]
[46]
[4][47]
June[edit]
June 1 Global Day of Parents, recognized by the UN[4][49]
June 1 International Children's Day
June 4 International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, recognized by the UN[4][50]
June 5 World Environment Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP[4][51]
June 8 World Oceans Day, recognized by the UN[4][52]
June 12 World Day Against Child Labour,[4][53]
June 14 World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][54]
June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized by the UN[4][55]
June 17 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN[4][56]
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[4][59]
June 24 World Young Doctors' Day
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[4][62]
June 26 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the
UN[4][63]
3rd Sunday of June Fathers' Day in some countries
[4][57]
[4][58]
[60]
[4][61]
July[edit]
First Saturday in July , recognized by the UN
July 2 World UFO Day
July 6 - World Zoonoses Day
July 11 World Population Day, recognized by the UN[4][66]
[4][64]
[65]
July 12Malala Yousafzai Day, recognized by the UN
July 13 -- Rock Worldwide Day[67]
July 17 - World Day for International Justice
July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day, recognized by the UN
July 28 World Hepatitis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][69]
July 29 International Tiger Day
July 30 International Day of Friendship, recognized by the UN[4][70]
[4][68]
August[edit]
First Friday of August International Beer Day
August 9 International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN
[4][71]
August 12 International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
August 13 International Lefthanders Day
August 17 - Smile and Wave to Tourists International Day
August 19 World Humanitarian Day, recognized by the UN
August 21 - World Fashion Day
August 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition,
recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][74]
August 29 International Day against Nuclear Tests, recognized by the UN[4][75]
August 30 International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, recognized by the

UN[4][76]
[4][72]
[4][73]
September[edit]
September 5 International Day of Charity[4]
September 8 International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][77]
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[4][79]
September 15 International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN[4][80]
September 16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, recognized by the
[4][81]
UN
September 18 World Water Monitoring Day
September 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
September 21 International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN[4][82]
September 26 European Day of Languages
September 27 World Tourism Day, recognized by the UN and UNWTO[4][83]
September 28 World Rabies Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][84]
September 28 International Right to Know Day[85]
September 29 World Heart Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][86]
September 29 International Coffee Day
September 30 Blasphemy Day
Last Thursday of September World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN and IMO[87]
October[edit]
October 1 International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN[4][88]
October 1 World Vegetarian Day
[4][78]
October 1 World Sake Day
October 2 International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN[4][89]
October 2 World Cerebral Palsy Day
October 4 World Animal Day
October 5 World Teachers' Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][90]
First Monday of October World Architecture Day
First Friday of October World Smile Day[91]
October 9 World Post Day, recognized by the UN[4][92]
October 10 World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][93]
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[4][97]
October 16 National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
October 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN[4][98]
October 18 World Vasectomy Day[99]
October 20 World Osteoporosis Day[100]
October 20 International Day of the Air Traffic Controller
October 20 World Statistics Day
October 22 International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 24 - World Tripe Day, recognized by the Tripe Marketing Board[102]
October 24 United Nations Day, recognized by the UN[4][103]
October 24 World Development Information Day, recognized by the UN[4][104]
October 27 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][105]
October 28 International Animation Day
First Monday in October World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN[4][106]
Second Thursday in October, October 11 World Sight Day, recognized by the UN and
[4][107]
WHO
Second Friday of October World Egg Day
Second Saturday of October- International Migratory Bird Day,South America
[4][94]
[4][95]
[4][96]
[101]
[108]
November[edit]
November 6 International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and
Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN[4][109]
November 8 International Day of Radiology
November 10 World Science Day for Peace and Development, recognized by the UN and
UNESCO[4][110]
November 12 World Pneumonia Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][111]
November 13 World Kindness Day
November 14 World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][112]
November 15 Day of the Imprisoned Writer
November 16 International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN
[4][113]
November 16 World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day, recognized by the UN and
WHO (in 2013, celebrated on November 20)[4][114]
November 17 International Students Day
November 17 - World Prematurity Day
November 19 International Journalist's remembrance Day, recognized by the journalist

community of the world[115]
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
[4][116]
[4][117]
November 21 World Television Day, recognized by the UN
November 21 World Hello Day
November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by
the UN[4][119]
November 26 International Day of Cats, recognized by the UN[4][120]
November 29 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the
UN[4][121]
Third Thursday in November, November 15 World Philosophy Day, recognized by the UN and
UNESCO[4][122]
Third Sunday in November, November 17 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims,
recognized by the UN and WHO[4][123]
[4][118]
December[edit]
December 1 World AIDS Day, recognized by the UN[4][124]
December 2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, recognized by the UN[4][125]
December 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognized by the UN
December 5 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, recognized by
[4][127]
the UN
December 7 International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN and ICAO[4][128]
December 9 International Anti-Corruption Day, recognized by the UN
December 10 Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN[4][130]
December 10 International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns
December 11 International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN[4][132]
December 12 The International Day Of Heavy Metal, a celebration of Heavy Metal & Hard Rock
Music[133][134][135][136]
December 18 International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN[4][137]
December 20 International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN[4][138]
December 25 Christmas Day, recognized by the Christian and Western World
[4][126]
[4][129]
[131]
Weeks[edit]
February 17 World Interfaith Harmony Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/65/5
[139]
March 21 27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial
Discrimination, recognized by the UN with A/RES/34/24[139]
April 25 May 2 (2009) Vaccination Week in the Americas[140]
May 25 31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized

by the UN with A/RES/54/91[139]
August 17 World Breastfeeding Week, coordinated by the WHO[4]
October 410 World Space Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/68[139]
October 2430 Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/S-10/2 (see p. 102)[139]
October 2531 International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, [5]
The week in which November 11 falls International Week of Science and Peace, recognized by
[139]
the UN with A/RES/43/61
Global Road Safety Week held on a different week every year, 2013: May 612; coordinated by
[6]
the WHO
Months[edit]
February LGBT Month
October Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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.
November - Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month
Years[edit]
Before 1950[edit]
1882/1883 International Polar Year
1932/1933 International Polar Year
1950s[edit]
1957/1958 International Geophysical Year
1959/1960 World Refugee Year
1960s[edit]
1961 International Health and Medical Research Year
1965 International Cooperation Year
1967 International Tourist Year
1968 International Year for Human Rights
1970s[edit]
1970 International Education Year
1971 International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
1974 World Population Year
1975 International Women's Year
1978/1979 International Anti-Apartheid Year
1979 International Year of the Child
1980s[edit]
1981 International Year of Disabled Persons
1982 International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa
1983 World Communications Year
1984 Year of Women in South Africa [7]
1985 Year of the United Nations
1985 International Youth Year
1986 International Year of Peace
1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
1990s[edit]
1990 International Literacy Year United Nations General Assembly Resolution 104 session
42 International Literacy Year on December 7, 1987
1992 International Space Year
1993 International Year of the World's Indigenous People
1994 International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
1994 International Year of the Family
1995 World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War
1995 United Nations Year for Tolerance
1996 International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
1998 International Year of the Ocean
1999 International Year of Older Persons
1999 International Men's Day
2000s[edit]
2000 International Year for the Culture of Peace
2001 International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and
Related Intolerance
2001 International Year of Volunteers
2001 United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations[8][9][10]
2002 International Year of Ecotourism [11]
2002 International Year of Mountains [12] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24
session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)
2002 United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [13]
2003 International Year of Freshwater [14]
2003 European Disability Year
2004 International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [15]
2004 International Year of Rice
2005 International Year for Sport and Physical Education
2005 International Year of Microcredit [16]
2005 World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [17]
2006 International Year of Deserts and Desertification
2007 Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
2007 International Year of the Scout [18]
20072008 International Heliophysical Year
20072008(2009) International Polar Year
(2007)2008(2009) International Year of Planet Earth (N.B. Triennium) [19] and [20] & [21]
2007 Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia
2008 International Year of Languages
2008 International Year of the Potato
2008 International Year of Sanitation
2009 International Year of Astronomy [22] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO
General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
2009 International Year of Natural Fibres
[141]
2009 International Year of Reconciliation
[142][143]
2009 Year of the Gorilla [23]
2009 International Year of the Shark [24]
2010s[edit]
2010 International Year of Communications[citation needed]
2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures[144]
2010 International Year of Biodiversity
2010 International Year of Youth
2011 International Year of Forests
2011 International Year of Advanced Skills
2011 International Year of Chemistry, recognized by UNESCO
2011 International Year for People of African descent
2011 World Veterinary Year 2011
2012 International Year of Cooperatives
2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
2013 International Year of Water Cooperation
2013 International Year of Quinoa[145]
2014 International Year of Small Island Developing States[146]
2014 International Year of Family Farming
2014 International Year of Crystallography
2014 International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
2015 International Year of Soils [151]
2015 International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies
2016 International Year of Pulses
[147]
[148][149]
[150]
[152]
[153]
Decades[edit]
19761985 United Nations Decade for Women [25], recognized by the UN
1990s International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
19942004 First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [26], recognized by the
UN
19972006 First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [27], recognized by the
UN
20002010 Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [28] (pdf),
20002010 Bone and Joint Decade [29], recognized by WHO
20012010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of
the World [30], recognized by the UN
20012010 Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa (2001
2010), recognized by the UN
20032012 United Nations Literacy Decade [31], recognized by the UN
20052014 United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development [32],

20052014 Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [33], recognized by
the UN
20052015 Water for Life Decade, recognized by the UN
20102020 United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification,
20112020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, recognized by the UN; Third International
Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, recognized by the UN; Decade of Action for Road
Safety [www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/index.html], recognized by the UN

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January[edit]

January 4 - World Braille Day

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,

January 31 Street Children's Day

February 2 World Wetlands Day

February 4 World Cancer Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][5]

February 6 -- International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, recognized by

February 11 World Day of the Sick Instituted by Pope John Paul II

February 13 World Radio Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][7]

February 20 World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN

February 21 International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO

February 21 International Human Rights Commission Constitution Day, recognized by the

March 1 - World Civil Defence Day[8]

March 8 International Women's Day, recognized by the UN[9]

March 11 World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film

March 14 International Day of Action for Rivers[10]

March 15 World Consumer Rights Day World Contact Day

March 20 International Day of the Francophonie[11]

March 20 International Day of Happiness, recognized by the UN[4][12]

March 20 World Sparrow Day[13]

March 21 World Poetry Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[4][14]

March 21 International Day of Nowruz, recognized by the UN[4][15]

March 21 World Down Syndrome Day, recognized by the UN[4][16]

March 21 World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA

March 21 International Day of Forests, recognized by the UN[4][17]

March 22 World Water Day, recognized by the UN

March 22 World Mime Day

March 23 World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN and WHO

March 24 World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][20]

March 27 - World Theatre Day

Third Friday of March World Sleep Day

April 1 April Fool's Day

April 2 World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN

April 2 International Children's Book Day

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[4][28]

April 16 World Entrepreneurship Day[29]

April 17 World Hemophilia Day

April 18 International Day on Monuments and Sites/World Heritage Day

April 22 International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN[4][30]

April 23 English Language Day[4]

April 24 World Day for Laboratory Animals

April 25 World Malaria Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[4][32]

April 26 World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN and WIPO[4][33]

April 29 International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO[36]

April 30 International Jazz Day, recognized by the UN

May 1 May Day, International Workers' Day

May 3 World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN[4][38]

May 4 International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day

May 5 Day of Vesak, recognized by the UN[39]

May 5 International Midwives Day

May 8 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

May 9 Europe day

May 10-International Migratory Bird Day, North America

May 12 International Nurses Day

May 15 International Day of Families, recognized by the UN[4][41]

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 22 International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN[4][44]

May 22 World Goth Day