The United Nations General Assembly designates a number of “International Days” to mark important aspects of human life and history.
United Nations Specialized Agencies, including UNESCO, can also proclaim World Days. In this case, the proclamation of international days depends on their governing bodies and internal regulations only.
UNESCO thus celebrates UN International Days related to its fields of competence, in addition to the other World Days, proclaimed by the Organization’s governing bodies or other institutions.
JANUARY
27 January
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust ( 34 C/Resolution 61; A/RES/60/7)
FEBRUARY
11 February
International Day of Women and Girls in Science ( A/70/474/Add.2)
13 February
World Radio Day ( 36 C/Resolution 63; A/67/62)
21 February
International Mother Language Day ( 30 C/62; A/RES/56/262)
MARCH
8 March
International Women’s Day ( 20 C/Resolution 13.2)
20 March
International Francophonie Day (in French) (Message from the Director-General)
21 March
World Poetry Day ( 30 C/Resolution 29)
21 March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ( 14 C/Resolution 11; A/RES/2142 (XXI))
21 March
International Day of Nowruz ( 184 EX/SR.1-9; A/RES/64/253)
22 March
World Day for Water ( 141 EX/22; A/RES/47/193)
APRIL
6 April
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace ( 37 C/60; A/RES/67/296)
23 April
World Book and Copyright Day ( 28 C/Resolution 3.18)
30 April
International Jazz Day ( 36 C/Resolution 39)
MAY
3 May
World Press Freedom Day ( 26 C/Resolution 4.3)
5 May
African World Heritage Day ( 38 C/68)
16 May
International Day of Light ( 39 C/40)
21 May
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development ( 166 EX/37; A/RES/57/249)
22 May
International Day for Biological Diversity ( 146 EX/32; A/RES/49/119)
25 May
Africa Day / Africa Week (from 22 to 25 May)
JUNE
5 June
World Environment Day ( 112 EX/15; A/RES/2994 (XXVII) )
8 June
World Oceans Day ( 181 EX/4; A/RES/63/111 )
17 June
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought ( A/RES/49/115)
JULY
18 July
Nelson Mandela International Day ( A/RES/64/13)
26 July
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem ( 38 C/66)
AUGUST
9 August
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People ( 146 EX/32; A/RES/49/214)
12 August
International Youth Day ( 159 EX/28; A/RES/54/120)
23 August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition ( 29 C/Resolution 40)
SEPTEMBER
8 September
International Literacy Day ( 14 C/Resolution 1.441)
15 September
International Day of Democracy ( A/RES/62/7)
20 September
International Day of University Sport ( 38 C/Resolution 44)
21 September
International Day of Peace ( 114 EX/24; A/RES/36/67; A/RES/55/282)
28 September
International Day for the Universal Access to Information ( 38 C/70)
OCTOBER
5 October
World Teachers’ Day ( 27 C/INF.7)
13 October
International Day for Disaster Reduction ( 134 EX/15; A/RES/44/236; A/RES/64/200)
17 October
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ( 28 C/Resolution 2.1; A/RES/47/196)
20 October
World Statistics Day ( A/RES/64/267)
27 October
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage ( 33 C/Resolution 53)
NOVEMBER
2 November
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists ( A/RES/68/163)
5 November
World Day of Romani Language ( 38 C/65)
World Tsunami Awareness Day (A/RES/70/203)
10 November
World Science Day for Peace and Development ( 31 C/Resolution 20)
Third Thursday in November
World Philosophy Day ( 33 C/Resolution 37)
16 November
International Day for Tolerance ( 28 C/Resolution 5.61; A/RES/51/95)
25 November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women ( 159 EX/28; A/RES/54/134)
Event organized at UNESCO Headquarters on 24 November 2017 (details)
29 November
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People ( 114 EX/24; A/RES/32/40B)
DECEMBER
1 December
World AIDS Day ( 130 EX/INF.3)
3 December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities ( A/RES/47/3)
10 December
Human Rights Day ( 3 C/Resolution 14.8; A/RES/423 (V))
18 December
International Migrants Day ( 161 EX/37; A/RES/55/93)
18 December
World Arabic Language Day ( 190 EX/Decision 48)
