International observances (Decades): Decades[edit] 1976–1985 –United Nations Decade for Women[26], recognized by the UN 1990s –International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction 1994–2004 –First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People [27], recognized by the UN 1997–2006 –First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty[28], recognized by the UN 2000–2010 –Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism[29](pdf), recognized by the UN 2000–2010 –Bone and Joint Decade[30], recognized by WHO 2001–2010 –International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World[31], 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[32], recognized by the UN 2005–2014 –United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development–[33], recognized by the UN 2005–2014 –Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People[34], 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; Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, recognized by the UN; Decade of Action for Road Safety[www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/index.html], recognized by the UN

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]

International observances (Weeks & Months): Weeks[edit] February 1–7World Interfaith Harmony Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/65/5[137] March 21 – 27Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN with A/RES/34/24 [137] April 25 – May 2 (2009) —Vaccination Week in the Americas[138] May 25 – 31Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/91[137] August 1–7World Breastfeeding Week, coordinated by the WHO[3] October 4–10–World Space Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/54/68[137] October 24–30–Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN with A/RES/S-10/2 (see p. 102)[137] October 25–31–International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week,[4] The week in which November 11 falls –International Week of Science and Peace, recognized by the UN with A/RES/43/61[137] Global Road Safety Week– held on a different week every year, 2013: May 6–12; coordinated by the WHO[5] Months[edit] February –LGBT Month October –Breast Cancer Awareness Month November –MovemberNovember events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression November –National Novel Writing MonthPeople from all over the world trying to each write a 50,000 word novel in a month.

International observances (December): December[edit] December 1 –World AIDS Day, recognized by the UN[3][122] December 2 –International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, recognized by the UN[3][123] December 3 –International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognized by the UN[3][124] December 5 –International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, recognized by the UN[3][125] December 7 –International Civil Aviation Day, recognized by the UN and ICAO[3][126] December 9 –International Anti-Corruption Day, recognized by the UN[3][127] December 10 –Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN[3][128] December 10 – International Animal Rights Day, founded in 1998 by Uncaged Campaigns[129] December 11 –International Mountain Day, recognized by the UN[3][130] December 12 –The International Day Of Heavy Metal, a celebration of Heavy Metal&Hard Rock Music[131][132][133][134] December 18 –International Migrants Day, recognized by the UN[3][135] December 20 –International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN[3][136]

International observances (September-November): September[edit] September 5International Day of Charity[3] September 8 –International Literacy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[3][75] September 10 –World Suicide Prevention Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][76] September 12 –United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, recognized by the UN[3][77] September 15 –International Day of Democracy, recognized by the UN[3][78] September 16 –International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, recognized by the UN[3][79] September 18 –World Water Monitoring Day September 19 -Talk Like A Pirate Day September 21 –International Day of Peace, recognized by the UN[3][80] September 26 –European Day of Languages September 27 –World Tourism Day, recognized by the UN and UNWTO[3][81] September 28 –World Rabies Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][82] September 28 –International Right to Know Day[83] September 30 –Blasphemy Day September 30 –International Coffee Day Last week of September –World Maritime Day, recognized by the UN and IMO[84] Last Saturday in September, September 29 –World Heart Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][85] October[edit] October 1 –International Day of Older Persons, recognized by the UN[3][86] October 1 –World Vegetarian Day October 1 –World Sake Day October 2 –International Day of Non-Violence, recognized by the UN[3][87] October 2 –World Cerebral Palsy Day October 4 –World Animal Day October 5 –World Teachers'Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[3][88] First Monday of October –World Architecture Day First Friday of October –World Smile Day[89] October 9 –World Post Day, recognized by the UN[3][90] October 10 –World Mental Health Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][91] October 11 –International Day of the Girl Child, recognized by the UN[3][92] October 13 –International Day for Disaster Reduction, recognized by the UN[3][93] October 14 –World Standards Day October 15 –International Day of Rural Women, recognized by the UN[3][94] October 15 –Global Handwashing Day October 16 –World Food Day, recognized by the UN and FAO[3][95] October 16 –National Boss Day(Boss's Day) October 17 –International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN[3][96] October 18 –World Vasectomy Day[97] October 20 –World Osteoporosis Day[98] October 20 –International Day of the Air Traffic Controller[99] October 20 –World Statistics Day October 22 –International Stuttering Awareness Day October 24 -World Tripe Day, recognized by the Tripe Marketing Board[100][101] October 24 –United Nations Day, recognized by the UN[3][102] October 24 –World Development Information Day, recognized by the UN[3][103] October 27 –World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[3][104] October 28 –International Animation Day First Monday in October –World Habitat Day, recognized by the UN[3][105] Second Thursday in October, October 11 –World Sight Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][106] Second Friday of October –World Egg Day[107] Second Saturday of October-International Migratory Bird Day,South America November[edit] November 6 –International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, recognized by the UN [3][108] November 8 –International Day of Radiology November 10 –World Science Day for Peace and Development, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[3][109] November 12 –World Pneumonia Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][110] November 13 –World Kindness Day November 14 –World Diabetes Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][111] November 15 –Day of the Imprisoned Writer November 16 –International Day for Tolerance, recognized by the UN[3][112] November 16 –World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day, recognized by the UN and WHO[3][113] November 17 –International Students Day November 19 –International Journalist's remembrance Day, recognized by the journalist community of the world[114] November 19 –International Men's Day(Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore,Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungar, Ireland,Ghana, Canada,Denmark, Austria, England, France,Scotland, Pakistan,Antigua and Barbuda ,St. Kitts and NevisandGrenada) November 20 –Universal Children's Day, recognized by the UN[3][115] November 20 –Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20 –Africa Industrialization Day, recognized by the UN[3][116] November 21 –World Television Day, recognized by the UN[3][117] November 21 –World Hello Day November 25 –International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, recognized by the UN[3][118] November 29 –International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, recognized by the UN[3][119] Third Thursday in November, November 15 –World Philosophy Day, recognized by the UN and UNESCO[3][120] Third Sunday in November, November 17 –World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, recognized by the UN and WHO [3][121]