International observance days list

Below is a list of days, years and decades that have been recognized as international observances by the United Nations, or by some other organizations that declare international observances but are not as widely recognized.

Days
January

• January 1- new years day
• 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, recognized by the UN
• January 31 – Street Children's Day

February

• February 2 – World Wetlands Day
• February 4 – World Cancer Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• February 6 -- International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, recognized by WHO
• February 11 – World Day of the Sick Instituted by Pope John Paul II
• February 14 - World Valentine Day
• February 13 – World Radio Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• February 20 – World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN
• February 21 – International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• February 21 – International Human Rights Commission Constitution Day, recognized by the IHRC

March

• March 1 - World Civil Defense Day
• March 8 – International Women's Day, recognized by the UN
• March 11 – World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
• March 14 – International Day of Action for Rivers
• March 14 – Pi Day
• March 15 – World Consumer Rights Day World Contact Day
• March 20 – International Day of the Francophonie
• March 20 – International Day of Happiness, recognized by the UN
• March 20 – World Sparrow Day
• March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
• March 21 – World Poetry Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• March 21 – International Day of Nowruz, recognized by the UN
• March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day, recognized by the UN
• March 21 – World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA
• March 21 – International Day of Forests, recognized by the UN
• March 22 – World Water Day, recognized by the UN
• March 23 – World Meteorological Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• March 24 – World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• March 24 – International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, recognized by the UN
• March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, recognized by the UN
• March 25 – International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, recognized by the UN
• March 27 - World Theater Day
• Third Friday of March – World Sleep Day

April

• April 1 – April Fool's Day, recognized by most of the Western World (except most of Spain), Iran, Brazil and the island of Minorca (within Spain)
• April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
• April 2 – International Children's Book Day
• April 4 – International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the UN
• April 7 – Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the UN
• April 7 – World Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• April 8 – International Romani Day
• April 12 – International Day of Human Space Flight, recognized by the UN, also observed as "Yuri's Night" by space enthusiasts by Russia and the former USSR under the name of "Cosmonautics Day"
• April 16 – World Entrepreneurship Day
• April 17 – World Hemophilia Day
• April 22 – International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN
• April 23 – World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• April 23 – English Language Day
• April 24 – World Day for Laboratory Animals
• April 25 – World Malaria Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• April 26 – World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN and WIPO
• April 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work, recognized by the UN and ILO
• April 29 – Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, recognized by the UN
• April 29 – International Dance Day, recognized by UNESCO
• April 30 – International Jazz Day, recognized by the UN

May

• May 1 – May Day, International Workers' Day
• May 3 – World Press Freedom Day, recognized by the UN
• May 4 – International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day
• May 5 – International Midwives Day
• May 8 – World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
• May 8–9 – Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, recognized by the UN
• May 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
• May 17 – World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, recognized by the UN and ITU
• May 17 – World AIDS Vaccine Day
• May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
• May 18 – International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
• May 18 – International Museum Day
• May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, recognized by the UN
• May 22 – International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN
• May 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
• Second Sunday of May – Mother's Day
• Full moon in May – Vesak
• A weekend in May – World Migratory Bird Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP

June

• June 1 – Global Day of Parents, recognized by the UN
• June 1 – International Children's Day
• June 4 – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, recognized by the UN
• June 5 – World Environment Day, recognized by the UN and UNEP
• June 8 – World Oceans Day, recognized by the UN
• June 12 – World Day Against Child Labour,
• June 14 – World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• June 15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
• June 17 – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN
• June 18 – Autistic Pride Day
• June 20 – World Refugee Day, recognized by the UN
• June 21 – World Music Day
• June 23 – United Nations Public Service Day, recognized by the UN
• June 23 – International Widow's Day, recognized by the UN
• June 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
• June 26 – United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the UN
• 3rd Sunday of June – Fathers' Day in some countries

July

• First Saturday in July – International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
• July 2 – World UFO Day
• July 6 - World Zoonoses Day
• July 11 – World Population Day, recognized by the UN
• July 12—Malala Yousafzai Day, recognized by the UN(July 14,2014-Malala Yousafzai Day)
• July 13 -- Rock Worldwide Day
• 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
• July 29 – International Tiger Day
• July 30 – International Day of Friendship, recognized by the UN

August

• First Friday of August – International Beer Day
• August 9 – International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN
• August 12 – International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
• August 13 – International Lefthanders Day
• August 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
• August 29 – International Day against Nuclear Tests, recognized by the UN
• August 30 – International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, recognized by the UN

September

• September 5 International Day of Charity
• September 8 – International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• September 8 Physical Therapy, recognized by World Confederation of Physical Therapy
• September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• September 12 – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN
• September 15 – International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN
• September 16 – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, recognized by the UN
• September 18 – World Water Monitoring Day
• September 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
• September 21 – International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN
• September 26 – European Day of Languages
• September 27 – World Tourism Day, recognized by the UN and UNWTO
• September 28 – World Rabies Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• September 28 – International Right to Know Day
• September 29 – World Heart Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• September 29 – International Coffee Day
• September 30 – Blasphemy Day
• Last Thursday of September – World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN and IMO

October

• October 1 – International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN
• October 1 – World Vegetarian Day
• October 1 – World Sake Day
• October 2 – International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN
• October 2 – World Cerebral Palsy Day
• October 4 – World Animal Day
• October 5 – World Teachers' Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• October 9 – World Post Day, recognized by the UN
• October 10 – World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• October 11 – International Day of the Girl Child, recognized by the UN
• October 12 – World Arthritis Day
• October 13 – International Day for Disaster Reduction, recognized by the UN
• October 14 – World Standards Day
• October 15 – International Day of Rural Women, recognized by the UN
• October 15 – Global Handwashing Day
• October 16 – World Food Day, recognized by the UN and FAO
• October 16 – National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
• October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN
• October 18 – World Vasectomy Day
• October 20 – World Osteoporosis Day
• October 20 – International Day of the Air Traffic Controller
• October 20 – World Statistics Day
• October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
• October 24 - World Tripe Day, recognized by the Tripe Marketing Board
• October 24 – United Nations Day, recognized by the UN
• October 24 – World Development Information Day, recognized by the UN
• October 27 – World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• October 28 – International Animation Day
• October 29 – World Stroke Day
• First Monday in October – World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN
• Second Thursday in October, October 11 – World Sight Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• First Monday of October – World Architecture Day
• First Friday of October – World Smile Day
• Second Friday of October – World Egg Day
• Second Saturday of October- International Migratory Bird Day,South America

November

• November 6 – International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN and WHO
• November 8 – International Day of Radiology
• November 10 – World Science Day for Peace and the Development, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• November 12 – World Pneumonia Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• November 13 – World Kindness Day
• November 14 – World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN and WHO
• November 15 – Day of the Imprisoned Writer
• November 16 – International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN
• November 16 – World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day, recognized by the UN and WHO (in 2013, celebrated on November 20)
• 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
• November 19 – International Men's Day (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungary, Ireland, Ghana, Canada, Denmark, Austria, France, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada)
• November 19 - International gun owner day (19/11)
• November 20 – Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN
• November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
• November 20 – Africa Industrialization Day, recognized by the UN
• November 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
• November 26 – International Day of Cats, recognized by the UN
• November 29 – International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN

• Third Thursday in November, November 15 – World Philosophy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO
• Third Sunday in November, November 17 – World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN and WHO

December

• December 1 – World AIDS Day, recognized by the UN
• December 2 – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, recognized by the UN
• December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognized by the UN
• December 5 – International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, recognized by the UN
• December 7 – International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN and ICAO
• December 9 – International Anti-Corruption Day, recognized by the UN
• December 10 – Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN
• December 10 – International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns
• December 11 – International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
• December 12 – The International Day Of Heavy Metal, a celebration of Heavy Metal & Hard Rock Music
• December 18 – International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN
• December 20 – International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN
• December 25 – Christmas Day, recognized by the Christian and Western World

Weeks

• February 1–7 World Interfaith Harmony Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/65/5
• March 21 – 27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN with A/RES/34/24
• April 25 – May 2 (2009) — Vaccination Week in the Americas
• May 25 – 31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/91
• August 1–7 World Breastfeeding Week, coordinated by the WHO
• October 4–10 – World Space Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/68
• October 24–30 – Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/S-10/2 (see p. 102)
• October 25–31 – International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week,
• The week in which November 11 falls – International Week of Science and Peace, recognized by the UN with A/RES/43/61
• Global Road Safety Week – held on a different week every year, 2013: May 6–12; coordinated by the WHO

Months

• February – LGBT Month
• September - International Prostate Cancer Awareness 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

Years
Before 1950

• 1882/1883 – International Polar Year
• 1932/1933 – International Polar Year

1950s

• 1957/1958 – International Geophysical Year
• 1959/1960 – World Refugee Year

1960s

• 1961 – International Health and Medical Research Year
• 1965 – International Cooperation Year
• 1967 – International Tourist Year
• 1968 – International Year for Human Rights

1970s

• 1970 – International Education Year
• 1971 – International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
• 1974 – World Population Year
• 1975 – International Women's Year
• 1978/1979 – International Anti-Apartheid Year
• 1979 – International Year of the Child

1980s

• 1981 – International Year of Disabled Persons
• 1982 – International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa
• 1983 – World Communications Year
• 1984 – Year of Women in South Africa
• 1985 – Year of the United Nations
• 1985 – International Youth Year
• 1986 – International Year of Peace
• 1987 – International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

1990s

• 1990 – International Literacy Year – United Nations General Assembly Session 42 Resolution 104. International Literacy Year A/RES/42/104 December 7, 1987. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
• 1992 – International Space Year
• 1993 – International Year of the World's Indigenous People
• 1994 – International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
• 1994 – International Year of the Family
• 1995 – World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War
• 1995 – United Nations Year for Tolerance
• 1996 – International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
• 1998 – International Year of the Ocean
• 1999 – International Year of Older Persons
• 1999 – International Men's Day

2000s

• 2000 – International Year 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
• 2002 – International Year of Ecotourism
• 2002 – International Year of Mountains United Nations General Assembly Session 53 Resolution 24. A/RES/53/24 {{{date}}}. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
• 2002 – United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage
• 2003 – International Year of Freshwater
• 2003 – European Disability Year
• 2004 – International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
• 2004 – International Year of Rice
• 2005 – International Year for Sport and Physical Education
• 2005 – International Year of Microcredit
• 2005 – World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP)
• 2006 – International Year of Deserts and Desertification
• 2007 – Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
• 2007 – International Year of the Scout
• 2007–2008 – International Heliophysical Year
• 2007–2008–(2009) – International Polar Year
• (2007)–2008–(2009) – International Year of Planet Earth – (N.B. Triennium) –
• 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 (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
• 2009 – International Year of Natural Fibres
• 2009 – International Year of Reconciliation
• 2009 – Year of the Gorilla –
• 2009 – International Year of the Shark –

2010s

• 2010 – International Year of Communications[citation needed]
• 2010 – International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
• 2010 – International Year of Biodiversity
• 2010 – International Year of Youth
• 2011 – International Year of Forests
• 2011 – International Year of Advanced Skills
• 2011 – International Year of Chemistry, recognized by UNESCO
• 2011 – International Year for People of African descent
• 2011 – World Veterinary Year 2011
• 2012 – International Year of Cooperatives
• 2012 – International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
• 2013 – International Year of Water Cooperation
• 2013 – International Year of Quinoa
• 2014 – International Year of Small Island Developing States
• 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
• 2015 – International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies
• 2016 – International Year of Pulses

Decades

• 1976–1985 – United Nations Decade for Women , recognized by the UN
• 1990s – International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
• 1994–2004 – First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN
• 1997–2006 – First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty , recognized by the UN
• 2000–2010 – Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, recognized by the UN
• 2000–2010 – Bone and Joint Decade, recognized by WHO
• 2001–2010 – International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, 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, recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 – United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development –, recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 – Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN
• 2005–2015 – Water for Life Decade, recognized by the UN
• 2010–2020 – United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification, recognized by the UN
• 2011–2020 – United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, recognized by the UN; Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, recognized by the UN; Decade of Action for Road Safety, recognized by the UN
• 2013–2020 – International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures, recognized by UNESCO