Human Rights Calendar
27 January – Holocaust Memorial Day
January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD), to honour the victims of the Nazi era.
2nd Tuesday of February – Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is organised by Insafe to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people.
12 February – Red Hand Day
Organisations supporting the Global Red Hand Campaign to stop the use of child soldiers include Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Youth Red Cross Germany, Terre des Hommes and Plan International.
21 February – International Mother Language Day
Since 1999 UNESCO has promoted this day to encourage broad and international commitment to promoting multilingualism and linguistic diversity, including the safeguarding of endangered languages.
8 March – International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. The first IWD was in 1911. The UN began observing International Women’s day in 1975.
12 March – World Day Against Cyber Censorship
World Day Against Cyber Censorship was observed on 12 March 2009 at the request of Reporter Without Borders and Amnesty International.
18 March – First Parliamentary Election with Universal Suffrage in Europe
This was in Finland in 1917.
21 March – World Poetry Day (Declared by UNESCO in 1999)
The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry.
21 March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination On this day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws”. Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
22 March – World Day for Water
First formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The observance began in 1993 and aims at promoting awareness of the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well-being.
23 March – World Meteorological Day
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Its work of weather forecasting is important in providing food security, water resources and transport.
24 March – World Tuberculosis Day
On this day in 1882, Dr Robert Koch presented his discovery of the TB bacillus to a group of doctors in Berlin. It was proclaimed an official day in 1992 by WHO.
2nd Tuesday in April – European Equal Pay Day
Proclaimed by BPW Europe (Business and Professional Women).
7 April – World Health Day
Proclamée en 1950 par l’Organisation Mondiale de la santé pour sensibiliser aux souffrances inacceptables de la mère et de l’enfant et aux efforts de tous nécessaires pour préserver la vie et la santé.
23 April – World Book and Copyright Day
By celebrating this Day UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. The Day was first celebrated in 1995. Also known as World Book Day.
24 April – Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
24 April 1915 marks the beginning of the genocide when the Ottoman government arrested and murdered hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople (Istanbul). It is estimated that 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a series of massacres and starvation that followed.
28 April – World Day for Health and Safety at Work
Declared by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
1 May – International Workers Day
Also known as “May Day”. It is a celebration of the International Labour Movement.
2nd Saturday in May – World Fair Trade Day
Declared by the World Fair Trade Organisation.
3 May – World Press Freedom Day
Declared by UNESCO in 1993 to promote press freedom in the world and to recognise that a free, pluralistic and independent press is an essential component of any democratic society.
5 May – Europe Day (Council of Europe)
An annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. There are two separate designations of Europe Day: 5 May for the Council of Europe and 9 May for the European Union.
8 May – World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
World Red Cross Day remembers and recognises the efforts of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide.
8-9 May – Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the
Second World War
Declared in 2004 by the United Nations General Assembly to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Second World War.
15 May – International Day of Families
Declared in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly to increase awareness of family issues.
17 May – The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
UNAID Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Co-ordinated by the Paris based “IDAHO Committee”.
17 May – World Information Society Day
Proclaimed by the UN in 2005 to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the Internet and new technologies. It also aims to help reduce the Digital divide.
21 May – World Anti-Terrorism Day
World Anti-Terrorism Day is to oppose all forms of terrorism and violence. It was initiated in India because “thousands of youth are lured into the folds of terrorist camps and organizations each year.”
21 May – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Proclaimed in 2002 by the UN to protect cultural diversity as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence.
22 May – International Day for Biological Diversity
Proclaimed in 2000 by the UN General Assembly for the promotion of biodiversity issues. The Day was previously observed on 29 December.
26 May – World Challenge Day
Organised each year by TAFISA (The Association for International Sport for All). Communities from around the world compete to motivate as many people as possible to be physically active.
28 May – European Neighbours Day
Sponsored by the Council of Europe. The aim is that cities and social housing organisations strengthen local communities by encouraging neighbourhood parties and other similar events.
29 May – International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Designated in 2002 by the UN to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
31 May – World No-Tobacco Day
Started in 1987 by the WHO to encourage 24 hours of abstinence from all forms of tobacco to draw global attention to the widespread use of tobacco use and the health risks.
4 June – International Day of Innocent Children
Victims of Aggression Commemorated since 1982 to acknowledge and remind people of the suffering of many children victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse and of the need to protect the rights of children.
5 June – World Environment Day
Established in 1972 by the UN General Assembly to deepen public awareness of the need to preserve and enhance the environment.
12 June – World Day Against Child Labour
The International Labour Organization launched the first World Day Against Child Labour in 2002.
17 June – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
Proclaimed in 1995 by the UN to promote awareness of the need for international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought, including implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification.
20 June – World Refugee Day
Proclaimed in 2000 by the General Assembly to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
23 June – United Nations Public Service Day
Designated by the UN to highlight the contribution of public service in the development process.
26 June – International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
The General Assembly in 1987 decided to observe this day to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
26 June – United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Proclaimed in 1997 by the UN, the day aims at the eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The day was first observed on 26 June 1987.
1st Saturday, July – International Day of Co-operatives Proclaimed in 1992 by the UN General Assembly.
The date marks the centenary of the International Co-operative Alliance recognising that co-operatives are an indispensable factor in development.
11 July – World Population Day
Proclaimed in 1989 by the United Nations
