International observances (Years): Years[edit] Before 1950[edit] 1882/1883 –International Polar Year 1932/1933 –International Polar Year 1950s[edit] 1957/1958 –International Geophysical Year 1959/1960 –World Refugee Year 1960s[edit] 1961 –International Health and Medical Research Year 1965 –International Cooperation Year 1967 –International Tourist Year 1968 –International Year for Human Rights 1970s[edit] 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[edit] 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[6] 1985 –Year of the United Nations 1985 –International Youth Year 1986 –International Year of Peace 1987 –International Year of Shelter for the Homeless 1990s[edit] 1990 –International Literacy Year–United Nations General AssemblyResolution104 session 42International Literacy Yearon December 7, 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[edit] 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[7][8][9] 2002 –International Year of Ecotourism[10] 2002 –International Year of Mountains[11]United Nations General AssemblyResolution24 session 53(retrieved 2007-11-19) 2002 –United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage[12] 2003 –International Year of Freshwater[13] 2003 –European Disability Year 2004 –International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition[14] 2004 –International Year of Rice 2005 –International Year for Sport and Physical Education 2005 –International Year of Microcredit[15] 2005 –World Year of Physics(declared byIUPAP)[16] 2006 –International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2007 –Year of the Dolphin(extended to 2008) 2007 –International Year of the Scout[17] 2007–2008 –International Heliophysical Year 2007–2008–(2009) –International Polar Year (2007)–2008–(2009) –International Year of Planet Earth– (N.B. Triennium) –[18]and[19]&[20] 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[21](proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly) 2009 –International Year of Natural Fibres[22] 2009 –International Year of Reconciliationhttp://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_61/meeting_56/pg025-bk02#pg025-bk02 ][23] 2009 –Year of the Gorilla–[24] 2009 –International Year of the Shark–[25] 2010s[edit] 2010 –International Year of Communications[citation needed] 2010 –International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures[139] 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 byUNESCO 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 2013 – International Year of Statistics (Statistics2013)[140] 2014 –International Year of Family Farming 2014 –International Year of Crystallography[141][142]