United Nations Days

  World Ocean Day webpage

UN Page

World Refugee Day is the international day to honour people who have been forced to flee from their home. UN Page

For many women around the world, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by a long-term fight for their basic rights and dignity. This is a day to take a look at some of the issues affecting widows around the world and what must be done to safeguard and advance their rights. UN Page

On this day the world celebrates Malala Day in honour of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai. She has spent her life fighting for the rights of children and women. Today is her birthday.

The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. (UN Day)

There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 per cent of the world's population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. Indigenous peoples are... Read More

International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society. (UN page)

World Humanitarian Day is a global celebration of people helping people. It is intended to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide and in our own region. (UN page)

Charity, like the notions of volunteerism and philanthropy, provides real social bonding and contributes to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, supplement public services in health care, education, housing and child protection. (UN Day)

This is a day to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. (UN Day)

The UN supports democracy by promoting human rights, development, and peace and security. Only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. (UN Day)