Secondary Events

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People 9 August every year: Celebrating the lives of indigenous populations, and drawing attention to the discrimination and loss of rights they often face. You can find more information on the website of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in September […]

International Youth Day 12 August every year: Celebrating the experiences and voices of young people. Set up in 2000, the United Nations visit the International Youth Day celebrates the experiences and voices of young people. Each Day has a different annual theme. Further information can be found here.

8 September every year: UNESCO celebrates International Literacy Day to remind the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning. For further information, visit the UN’s International Literacy Day and the UNESCO Literacy Programme websites, and view this UNESCO infographic about world literacy and why it is important. Further information can be found here.

International Day of Peace 21 September ever year: the International Day of Peace was brought into being by United Nations Resolutions in 1981 and 2001. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide and thousands of organizations across the globe now actively observe Peace Day. Further information can be found here.

10 November every year: the objectives of World Science Day for Peace and Development (WSDPD) are to strengthen public awareness on the role of science for peaceful and sustainable societies; to promote national and international solidarity for a shared science between countries; to renew national and international commitment for the use of science for the benefit of […]

11 November every year: Armistice Day, also known as Poppy Day or Remembrance Day, commemorates the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since World War I (1914-1918). It is observed on 11 November because World War I ended on that date in 1918. Further information and resources can be found here.

16 November every year: Encouraging respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples. Find out more on the UN Website or the UNESCO Promoting Tolerance web page.

20 November marks the day in which the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959. Universal Children’s Day acknowledges the importance of actively promoting the welfare of the world’s children. Further information can be found on the Global Dimension website.