Guide To UN Days And Observances: Inspire Global Change

Explore our guide to United Nations (UN) Days and Observances to discover which global events have been nominated to spark action and create lasting positive change worldwide. This ultimate list of UN days and weeks is paired with suggested speakers. PepTalk connects you with world-class speakers and storytellers, available both in-person and online, ensuring you never miss the chance to make an impact on key occasions.

UN Days in January

• World Braille Day | 4 January
• International Day of Education | 24 January
• International Day of Clean Energy | 26 January
• International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust | 27 January

UN Days in February

• World Interfaith Harmony Week | 1-7 February
• World Wetlands Day | 2 February
• International Day of Human Fraternity | 4 February
• International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation | 6 February
• International Day of the Arabian Leopard | 10 February
• World Pulses Day | 10 February
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science | 11 February 👉 Explore STEM speakers to inspire
• International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism | 12 February
• World Radio Day | 13 February
• Global Tourism Resilience Day | 17 February
• World Day of Social Justice | 20 February
• International Mother Language Day | 21 February

UN Days in March

• World Wildlife Day | 3 March
• World Book Day 📚 | 6 March‍
• International Women’s Day | 8 March 👉 Explore top International Women’s Day speakers
• French Language Day | 20 March
• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | 21 March‍
• International Day of Forests | 21 March
• International Day of Nowruz | 21 March
• World Water Day | 22 March 👉 Book a marine biologist like Diva Amon or ocean swimmer Lewis Pugh
• World Meteorological Day ☁️ | 23 March
• Right to Truth Day | 24 March
• World Tuberculosis Day | 24 March
• Slavery Remembrance Day | 25 March
• Detained Staff Day | 25 March

UN Days in April

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• World Autism Awareness Day | 2 April 👉 Explore outstanding Autism Awareness Speakers
• International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action | 4 April
• International Day of Conscience | 5 April‍
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace | 6 April 👉Speaker Ethan Zohn is known for his humanitarian efforts and for founding Grassroot Soccer (GRS), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to using the power of soccer to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.‍
• International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda | 7 April‍
• World Health Day 👩‍⚕️ | 7 April 👉 Explore speakers specialising in the latest healthcare trends.‍
• International Day of Human Space Flight 🚀 | 12 April 👉 Check out our top Astronaut speakers — to the moon!
• ‍Chinese Language Day | 20 April
• ‍World Creativity and Innovation Day | 21 April 👉 Find an innovation speaker to inspire your team.‍
• English Language Day | 23 April‍
• Spanish Language Day | 23 April‍
• World Book and Copyright Day | 23 April‍
• World Malaria Day | 25 April‍
• International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day | 26 April‍
• World Intellectual Property Day | 26 April‍
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work | 28 April‍
• Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare | 29 April‍
• International Jazz Day | 30 April
  
  

UN Days in May

• World Tuna Day | 2 May
• World Press Freedom Day | 3 May
• Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon 🌕 | 12 May
• World Migratory Bird Day | 14 May
• International Day of Families | 15 May 👉 Check out our parenting speakers.
• International Day of Living Together in Peace | 16 May
• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day | 17 May
• World Bee Day 🐝 | 20 May
• Cultural Diversity Day | 21 May 👉 Explore diversity and inclusion keynote speakers.
• International Tea Day ☕ | 21 May
• International Biodiversity Day | 22 May
• International Day to End Obstetric Fistula | 23 May
• International Day of UN Peacekeepers | 29 May
• World No-Tobacco Day | 31 May

UN Days in June

• Global Day of Parents | 1 June 👉 Explore PepTalk’s parenting gurus.
• International Children’s Day | 1 June
• Child Victim Day | 4 June
• Illegal Fishing Day | 5 June
• World Environment Day | 5 June 👉 Find the best World Environment Day speaker for your team.
• Russian Language Day | 6 June
• World Oceans Day | 8 June
  
• World Day Against Child Labour | 12 June
• International Albinism Awareness Day | 13 June
• World Blood Donor Day | 14 June
• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | 15 June
• International Day of Family Remittances | 16 June
• Desertification Day | 17 June
• Sustainable Gastronomy Day | 18 June
• Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict Day | 19 June
• World Refugee Day | 20 June
• International Day of Yoga | 21 June 👉 Find your ohm with our meditation speakers.
• International Widows Day | 23 June
• Public Service Day | 23 June
• Day of the Seafarer | 25 June
• International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking | 26 June
• International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | 26 June
• Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day | 27 June
• International Day of the Tropics | 29 June
• International Asteroid Day | 30 June

UN Days in July

• World Rural Development Day | 6 July
• International Day of Cooperatives | 6 July
• World Kiswahili Language Day | 7 July
• International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica | 11 July
• World Population Day | 11 July
• International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms | 12 July
• World Youth Skills Day | 15 July
  
• Nelson Mandela International Day | 18 July
• World Chess Day | 20 July
• International Moon Day | 20 July
  
• World Drowning Prevention Day | 25 July
• International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent | 25 July
• World Hepatitis Day | 28 July
• International Day of Friendship | 30 July 👉 Book best friends Elizabeth Day and Emma Reed Turrell to explore life's connections.
• World Day against Trafficking in Persons | 30 July

UN Days in August

• World Breastfeeding Week | 1-7 August
• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples | 9 August
• World Steelpan Day | 11 August
• International Youth Day | 12 August
• World Humanitarian Day | 19 August
• International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism | 21 August
• International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief | 22 August
• International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition | 23 August
• International Day against Nuclear Tests | 29 August
• International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances | 30 August
• International Day for People of African Descent | 31 August

UN Days in September

• International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies | 5 September
• International Day of Police Cooperation | 7 September
• World Duchenne Awareness Day | 7 September
• International Literacy Day | 8 September
• International Day to Protect Education from Attack | 9 September
• United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation | 12 September
• International Day of Democracy | 15 September
• International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South | 16 September
• International Day for Interventional Cardiology | 16 September
• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer | 16 September
• World Patient Safety Day | 17 September
• International Equal Pay Day | 18 September 👉 Meet PepTalk’s gender equality speakers
• World Cleanup Day | 20 September
• International Day of Peace | 21 September
• International Day of Sign Languages | 23 September
• International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons | 26 September
• World Maritime Day | 26 September
• World Tourism Day | 27 September 👉 Meet PepTalk’s travel industry speakers
• International Day for Universal Access to Information | 28 September
• International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste | 29 September
• International Translation Day | 30 September

UN Days in October

• International Day of Older Persons | 1 October
• International Day of Non-Violence | 2 October
• World Space Week | 4-10 October 👉 Book an astronaut speaker like Tim Peake to engage your team.
• World Teachers’ Day | 5 October
• World Habitat Day | 7 October
• World Cotton Day | 7 October
• World Post Day | 9 October
• World Mental Health Day | 10 October 👉 Explore Mental Health speakers and read more about Mental Health Awareness Month (US)
• International Day of the Girl Child | 11 October
• World Migratory Bird Day | 12 October
• International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction | 13 October
• International Day of Rural Women | 15 October
• World Food Day | 16 October
• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty | 17 October 👉 Explore social mobility experts‍
• World Development Information Day | 24 October‍
• Global Media and Information Literacy Week | 24-31 October‍
• Disarmament Week | 24-30 October‍
• United Nations Day | 24 October‍
• World Day for Audiovisual Heritage | 27 October‍
• International Day of Care and Support | 29 October‍
• World Cities Day | 31 October

UN Days in November

• International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists | 2 November
• World Tsunami Awareness Day | 5 November
• International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict | 6 November
• International Week of Science and Peace | 9-15 November 👉 Book expert scientist speakers for your team event.
• World Science Day for Peace and Development | 10 November
• World Diabetes Day | 14 November 👉 November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and there's no better time to spotlight speakers like Kelly Springer, who will help your employee population support blood sugar health.
• International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime | 15 November
• International Day for Tolerance | 16 November
• World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims | 17 November
• World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week | 18-24 November
• World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence | 18 November
• World Toilet Day | 19 November
• Africa Industrialization Day | 20 November
• World Children's Day | 20 November
• World Television Day | 21 November
• World Philosophy Day | 21 November
• World Conjoined Twins Day | 24 November
• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | 25 November
• World Sustainable Transport Day | 26 November
• International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People | 29 November
• Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare | 30 November

UN Days in December

• World AIDS Day | 1 December
• International Day for the Abolition of Slavery | 2 December
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities | 3 December 👉 Explore PepTalk’s top disability awareness speakers
• International Day of Banks | 4 December
• International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development | 5 December
• World Soil Day | 5 December
• International Civil Aviation Day | 7 December
• International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime | 9 December
• International Anti-Corruption Day | 9 December
• Human Rights Day | 10 December
• International Mountain Day | 11 December 👉 Get on top of the world with our explorer speakers 
• International Day of Neutrality | 12 December
• International Universal Health Coverage Day | 12 December
• Arabic Language Day | 18 December
• International Migrants Day | 18 December
• International Human Solidarity Day | 20 December
• World Basketball Day | 21 December 👉 NBA fans unite — we’ve got the ultimate line-up of inspirational basketball speakers.
• International Day of Epidemic Preparedness | 27 December

Frequently asked questions

Why does the UN designate official days?

The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years, and decades to mark particular events or topics to promote the organisation's objectives through awareness and action. Usually, one or more Member States propose these observances, and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution. These celebrations are occasionally declared by the specialised agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when concerned with issues that fall within their scope. The General Assembly may later adopt some of them.

Are UN Days observed on fixed dates?

Yes, most UN international days have fixed dates. For example:

• World Health Day is always on April 7
• International Day of Peace is on September 21
• Human Rights Day is on December 10

Some UN days, however, are observed on variable dates each year, often based on specific schedules or alignments with certain weeks or events. The dates listed here should be double checked but are generally within a week of the date.

How do I mark a UN observance in my organisation?

You can mark an observance by hosting an event, launching a campaign, or engaging your community in activities related to the day's theme. Inviting a keynote speaker whose expertise aligns with the observance is a great way to create impact. For example, a speaker with experience in sustainability can deliver an inspiring talk on World Environment Day. At the same time, a diversity and inclusion expert can share valuable insights on International Women's Day.

What does the UN flag and emblem symolise?

The United Nations flag, featuring its emblem as a central element, has become a powerful symbol of the Organization and its mission. Depicting olive branches and a world map, the emblem and flag embody global aspirations for peace and unity. Beyond their symbolic meaning, they serve a practical purpose, identifying the UN in regions of conflict and crisis, ensuring recognition by all parties involved.

What to read next:

• 2025 Health Awareness Days, Events & Months
• 2025 DEI Days And Events | United States
• Disability Motivational Speakers: Boosting Inclusion At Work

💡 Would you like to mark any of these events with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we’ll find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it’s always a good time to get a PepTalk!