The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi. This day is referred to in India as Gandhi Jayanti.

In January 2004, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi had taken a proposal for an International Day of Non-Violence from a Hindi teacher in Paris teaching international students to the World Social Forum in Bombay. The idea gradually attracted the interest of some leaders of India's Congress Party ("Ahimsa Finds Teen Voice", The Telegraph, Calcutta) until a Satyagraha Conference resolution in New Delhi in January 2007 initiated by Sonia Gandhi and Archbishop Desmond Tutu called upon the United Nations to adopt the idea.^{[citation needed]}

On 15 June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence.^[1] The resolution by the General Assembly asks all members of the UN system to commemorate 2 October in "an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness." ^[2]

The United Nations Postal Administration in New York City prepared a special cachet to commemorate this event, following a request from the Indian Ambassador at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. The boxed pictorial cachet design was prepared by the UNPA and was limited to cancellation at UNPA's NY location (not Geneva and Vienna). The UNPA has indicated that all outgoing UNPA mail between October 2 and 31 carried the cachet. Information on various philatelic material carrying this cachet is summarized at a website dedicated to Gandhi philately and can be accessed here.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Introduction of the draft resolution on International Day of Non-Violence - United Nations

v t e Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Family Kasturba Harilal Manilal Ramdas Devdas Samaldas Arun Rajmohan Tushar Gopalkrishna Influences Ahimsa Ashram Bhagavad Gita Henry David Thoreau Civil disobedience Fasting Hinduism Jainism John Ruskin Leo Tolstoy The Kingdom of God Is Within You The Masque of Anarchy Pacifism Sermon on the Mount Shrimad Rajchandra Unto This Last Vegetarianism Life Civil rights movement in South Africa Bardoli Satyagraha Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha Non-cooperation Chauri Chaura Purna Swaraj Salt Satyagraha Vaikom Satyagraha Poona Pact Quit India Assassination Philosophy Gandhism Economics Sarvodaya Satyagraha The Story of My Experiments with Truth Swadeshi Swaraj Associates Vinoba Bhave Vallabhbhai Patel Acharya Kripalani Mirabehn C. F. Andrews Narhari Parikh Ravi Shankar Vyas Mohanlal Pandya Mahadev Desai Abbas Tyabji Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Dada Dharmadhikari J. C. Kumarappa Hermann Kallenbach Legacy Artistic depictions Gandhigiri Gandhi Peace Prize Gujarat Vidyapith Jamia Millia Islamia Kashi Vidyapeeth Memorial Hospital Seven Blunders of the World Influenced James Bevel Steve Biko 14th Dalai Lama Maria Lacerda de Moura James Lawson Martin Luther King, Jr. Nelson Mandela Aung San Suu Kyi Lanza del Vasto Memorials Physical Gandhi Smriti Kanyakumari Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site National Gandhi Museum Pietermaritzburg Rajghat Observances Gandhi Jayanti International Day of Non-Violence Season for Nonviolence Category Commons Wikiquotes

This article about politics is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

International observance (also known as international dedication or international anniversary) denotes a period of time to observe some issue of international interest or concern. This is used to commemorate, promote and mobilize for action. Many of these periods have been established by the United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council or by UNESCO. In this case, the lead agency for a particular international observance uses the symbolism of the United Nations (UN) or UNESCO, a specially designed logo for the year, and their infrastructure to coordinate events worldwide. It also presents a written report about the event. This summarizes the activities that took place around the world under the auspices of the international observance, and makes recommendations for the future.

List of international observances[link]

Below follows a list of consecutively days, years and decades that have been denoted as international observances by the United Nations. There are also other organizations that declare international observances but those are not as widely recognized.

Days[link]

January[link]

• January 1 - Global Family Day - formerly One Day of Peace and Sharing, recognized by the UN
• January 1 - World Day of Peace - established by Pope Paul VI in his letter dated on 8.12.1967^{[clarification needed]}
• January 9 - Non- Resident Indian Day.
• January 11- international add a minute and 4 degrees day.
• January 26 - International Customs Day^{[citation needed]}
• January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• January 30 - International Adopt-A-Rabbit Day

February[link]

• February 2 - World Wetlands Day
• February 4 - World Cancer Day
• February 6 - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
• February 11 - World Day of the Sick, an observance day instituted by pope John Paul II
• February 13 - World Radio Day, recognized by UNESCO
• February 14 - Valentines Day
• February 20 - World Day of Social Justice, recognized by the UN

• February 21 - International Mother Language Day, recognized by the UN
• February 22 - International Scouts Day^{[citation needed]}
• February 22 - World Thinking Day
• February 28 - International Pashtun Jirga Day^{[citation needed]}

March[link]

• March 1 - International Cat Day^{[citation needed]}
• March 3 - International Day for Ear and Hearing,^[1] recognized by WHO
• March 8 - United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
• March 11 - World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
• March 12 - World Day of Tequila
• March 14 - International Day of Action for Rivers^[2]
• March 14 - Pi Day
• March 14 - International Superman/Superwoman Day (Wear Underwear Inside Out Day)
• March 15 - World Consumer Rights DayInternational Crow Day
• March 16 - Halabja's chemical attack day (genocide against kurdish people)
• March 20 - National Post Something On My Wall Day
• March 20 - International Day of the Francophonie^[3]
• March 20 - World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People^[4]
• March 20 - World House Sparrow Day^[5]
• March 20 or 21 – Earth Day
• March 21 - World Down Syndrome Daynewroz (kurdish new year) day
• March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
• March 21 - World Poetry Day, recognized by UNESCO
• March 21 - World Puppetry Day, recognized by UNIMA
• March 21 - World Forest Day,^[6] recognized by FAO
• March 22 - World Day for Water, recognized by the UN
• March 23 - World Meteorological Day^{[citation needed]}, recognized by the UN
• March 24 - International Day for Achievers^{[citation needed]},
• March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day, recognized by the UN/WHO
• March 25 - International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade^{[citation needed]}, recognized by the UN
• March 27 - World Theatre Day^{[citation needed]}
• March 27 - World Whisky Day^[7]

April[link]

• April 1 - April Fool's Day recognized by Canada,Greece, New Zealand, the UK, Australia, Cyprus, and South Africa, France, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Armenia, The Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and the U.S.
• April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
• April 2 - International Children's Book Day
• April 3 - International Beer Drinking Day
• April 4 - International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, recognized by the UN
• April 7 - World Health Day, recognized by the UN
• April 7 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, recognized by the UN
• April 8 - International Day of the Roma
• April 12 - International Day of Human Space Flight [1] - an official United Nations day
• April 12 - International Day for Street Children
• April 14 - Cultural Unity Day, recognized by India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• April 15 - International Crow Day recognized by Global Green Community.
• April 16 - World Entrepreneurship Day (WED) site
• April 16 - International day against child slavery
• April 17 - World Hemophilia Day, recognized by the UN
• April 20 - International Pearse Finnerty Day
• April 21 - World Creativity and Innovation Day. Celebrations begin April 15 - Leonardo da Vinci's Birthday
• April 22 - International Mother Earth Day, recognized by the UN
• April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN
• April 24 - World Day for Laboratory Animals, recognized by the UN
• April 25 - World Malaria Day, recognized by the WHO
• April 26 - World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN
• April 27 - international sports day
• April 28 - International Workers' Memorial Day
• April 28 - International Ernest Day
• April 29 - World Dance Day
• 1st Thursday - International burrito day

May[link]

• May 1 - May Day - Labour 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 5 - Happy Birth Day of Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum
• May 6 - International Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)
• May 7 - Rabindranath Tagore's Anniversary Day
• May 8 - World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day
• May 9 - Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, recognized by the UN
• May 10 - [The International Mothers Day]
• May 12 - International Owl and Pussycat Day celebrating the birthday of Edward Lear and his bicentenary 2012

[2] [3]

• May 12 - International Nurses Day
• May 15 - International Day of Families, recognized by the UN
• May 17 - World Information Society Day, recognized by the UN
• May 17 - Vesak Day Birth of Siddhartha, Buddhism found and Death of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
• May 17 - Vesak Day 2600 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya found of Buddhism
• 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 - World Goth Day
• May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity, recognized by the UN
• May 23 - World Turtle Day
• May 25 - Geek Pride Day
• May 25 - Towel day Tribute to Author Douglas Adams
• May 25 - Horse Day Day to celebrate and appreciate Horses
• May 29 - International Sleeping Day
• May 29 - International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, recognized by the UN
• May 31 - World No Tobacco Day, recognized by the UN
• May 29 - International No Homework Day
• 1st Tuesday of May - World Asthma Day
• 2nd Saturday of May - World Fair Trade Day
• 2nd Sunday of May - International Mothers' Day

June[link]

• 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
• June 5 - International Phoebe Day
• June 8 - World Brain Tumor Day
• June 8 - World Ocean Day
• June 10 - Ballpoint Pen Day
• June 11 - Moon Celebration
• June 12 - World Day Against Child Labour
• June 14 - World Blood Donor Day, recognized by the UN
• June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, recognized by the UN
• June 18 - International Ride to Work Day
• June 18 - Autistic Pride Day
• June 19 - World Sickle Cell Day, by UN Resolution
• 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 26 - International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, recognized by the UN
• June 26 - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, recognized by the UN
• June 28 - International Caps Lock Day
• 3rd Sunday of June - International Fathers' Day

July[link]

• July 1 - Doctor's Day,Bidhan Chandra Roy Birth Day (July 1 in India; March 30 in some other countries)
• 1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives, recognized by the UN
• July 7 - International Cooperative Day, International Chocolate Day
• July 8 - Writer's Day
• July 11 - World Population Day, recognized by the UN
• July 18 - Mandela Day, recognized by the UN^[8]
• July 28 - World Hepatitis Day
• July 29 - International Tiger Day
• July 30 - Friendship Day recognized by the UN
• Last Friday of July - System Administrator Appreciation Day

August[link]

• August 5 - International Beer Day[4]
• August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN [5][6]
• August 12 - International Youth Day, recognized by the UN
• August 13 - International Lefthanders Day
• August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
• August 20 - Akshaya Urja DIN
• August 21 - World Fashion Day
• August 21 - International day of Lucid Dreaming
• August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, recognized by the UN

September[link]

• September 8 - International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN
• September 8 - World Physical Therapy Day
• September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
• September 11 - 9/11 anniversary
• September 11 - World First Aid Day
• 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 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
• September 21 - International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN
• September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
• September 22 - (World) Car Free Day(s),world rhino day
• September 26 - European Day of Languages
• September 27 - World Tourism Day
• September 28 - Right to Know Day (RightToKnowDay.net)
• September 28 - World Rabies Day
• September 29 - World Heart Day ([7]}
• During last week of September - World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN

October[link]

• First Monday of October - World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN
• October 1 - International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN
• October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
• October 2 - International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN, observed on M.K. Gandhi's birthday
• October 4 - International Taco Day
• October 4 - World Animal Day
• October 5 - World Teachers' Day
• October 7 - World Smile Day^[9]
• October 8 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
• October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
• October 9 - World Post Day, recognized by the UN
• October 9 - Global Jamie Day, recognized by the UN
• October 10 - World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN
• October 10 - World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP
• October 12 - CubeSat Appreciation Day, a new initiative
• 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 - National Boss Day (Boss's Day)
• October 16 - World Food Day, recognized by the UN
• October 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN
• October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day^[10]
• October 20 - International Day of the Air Traffic Controller^[11]
• October 20 - World Statistics Day
• 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
• October 28 - INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY
• October 28 - International Animation Day
• Second Thursday of October - World Sight Day^[12]
• Second Friday of October - World Egg Day^[13]

November[link]

• Third Sunday of November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN
• November 1 - World Vegan Day
• November 6 - International nachos day
• November 6 - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN
• November 9 - World Freedom Day
• November 10 - World Immunization Day, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogen).
• November 12 - World Pneumonia Day^[14]
• November 13 - World Kindness Day
• November 14 - World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN
• November 16 - International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN
• November 17 - International Students Day
• 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, England, France, Scotland, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada)
• November 19 - World flower Day
• November 20 - Africa Industrialization Day, recognized by the UN
• November 20 - Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN
• November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
• November 21 - World Fisheries Day, Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum
• November 21 - World Hello Day
• November 21 - World Television Day, recognized by the UN
• November 22 - International Hug a Dragon Day.
• November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by the UN
• November 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN
• November 30 - Computer Security Day

December[link]

• 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 6 - World Colonics Day, recognized by the UN
• December 7 - International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN
• December 9 - The International Day against Corruption, 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^[15]
• December 11 - International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN
• December 13 - International Day Day, a meme celebrated by followers of Reddit^{[citation needed]}
• December 18 - International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN
• December 19 - United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN
• December 20 - International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN
• December 25 - Christmas

Weeks[link]

• March 21–27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN
• April 25 – May 2 (2009) — Vaccination Week In The Americas^[16]
• May 25–31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN
• 4th week of September - (International) Peace Week
• October 4–10 - World Space Week, recognized by the UN
• October 24–30 - Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN
• October 25–31 - International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, [8]
• Road Safety Week - November
• Shark Week - Summer

Months[link]

• January - [[InFo-ZoNe Mon
• February - LGBTQ Month
• October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• October - International Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC); www.isaac-online.org; www.aacawareness.org
• 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[link]

Before 1950[link]

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

1950s[link]

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

1960s[link]

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

1970s[link]

• 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[link]

• 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 [9]
• 1985 - Year of the United Nations
• 1985 - International Youth Year
• 1986 - International Year of Peace
• 1987 - International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

1990s[link]

• 1990 - International Literacy Year - United Nations General Assembly Resolution 104 session 42 International Literacy Year on 7 December 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[link]

• 2000 - International Year of Thanksgiving
• 2000 - International Year for the Culture of Peace
• 2000 - World Mathematical Year
• 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[10][11][12]
• 2002 - International Year of Ecotourism [13]
• 2002 - International Year of Mountains [14] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)
• 2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [15]
• 2003 - International Year of Freshwater [16]
• 2003 - European Disability Year
• 2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [17]
• 2004 - International Year of Rice
• 2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education
• 2005 - International Year of Microcredit [18]
• 2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP) [19]
• 2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification
• 2007 - Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)
• 2007 - International Year of the Scout [20]
• 2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year
• 2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year
• (2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth - (N.B. Triennium) - [21] and [22] & [23]
• 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
• 2008 - International Year of the Frog
• 2009 - International Year of Astronomy [24] (proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)
• 2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres [25]
• 2009 - International Year of Reconciliation http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02][26]
• 2009 - Year of the Gorilla - [27]
• 2009 - International Year of the Shark - [28]

2010s[link]

• 2010 - International Year of Communications^{[citation needed]}, International Year for the Reapprochement of Cultures
• 2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
• 2010 - International Year of Youth
• 2011 - International Year of Forests
• 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 Family Farming

Decades[link]

• 1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women [29], recognized by the UN
• 1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
• 1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [30], recognized by the UN
• 1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty [31], recognized by the UN
• 2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism [32] (pdf), recognized by the UN
• 2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade [33], recognised by WHO
• 2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World [34], 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 [35], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 - United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development - [36], recognized by the UN
• 2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [37], 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

See also[link]

• Awareness days
• List of commemorative days
• List of environmental dates

References[link]

External links[link]

• United Nations Observances Calendar
• Drori, Gili S., "United Nations' Dedications": A World Culture in the Making?, International Sociology, June 2005.