The General Assembly will hold a three-day, High-level Plenary Meeting at the opening of its sixtieth session to review implementation of the Millennium Declaration in the five years since it was adopted. The Declaration, adopted at the close of the historic Millennium Summit in September 2000, set out specific, attainable goals aimed at achieving a better and safer world in the new century through collective security and a global partnership for development. The upcoming summit will be held from 14 to 16 September in New York.

In the lead-up to the High-level Plenary Meeting, the Assembly will hold a High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development on 27 and 28 June, in New York, just prior to the high-level segment of the 2005 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council. The venue of the Council's July 2005 has been moved from Geneva to New York, on an exceptional basis, to facilitate the synergy between these three meetings.

In addition, the second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments will meet at Headquarters, from 7 to 9 September. Sponsored by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the first World Conference met at United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of the Millennium Assembly in September 2000.

Earlier in the year, the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will hold their Seventh Review Conference from 2 to 27 May 2005 in New York. The Sixth Review Conference took place in the year 2000.

To mark the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the General Assembly will hold a special solemn plenary meeting during the second week of May 2005, in commemoration of the  sacrifices made during the War. Also to that end, it has declared 8 and 9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation, to be observed annually worldwide -- on either day or both days -- as a tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

The second, concluding part of the World Summit on the Information Society will be held in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005. The first part of the Summit, held at Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, addressed a broad range of themes concerning the information society and adopted a Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action.

The General Assembly has also proclaimed the period from 1 January 2005 through 31 December 2014 as the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, to further strengthen international cooperation to solve problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and economic and social development. It also decided to continue observing 9 August of each year as the International Day of Indigenous People in New York, Geneva and other United Nations offices, throughout the Second Decade.

This year also marks the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), and the International Decade for Action , "Water for Life" (2005-2015). The latter begins on 22 March 2005, which is observed annually as the World Day for Water.

Meanwhile, the international community continues to observe the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa (2001-2010), the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010), the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010), and the United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All (2003-2012).

The Assembly has proclaimed 2005 as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, to promote the role of sport in promoting education, health, development and peace. This is also the International Year of Microcredit, observed as a special occasion for giving impetus to microcredit programmes in all countries, particularly the developing countries. In 2006, the international community will observe the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.

International Meeting to Review Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SmallIs land Developing States
(Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005) 

On 20 December 2002, the Assembly decided to convene an international meeting to conduct a 10-year review of the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States ( A/RES/57/262), and welcomed the offer of the Government of Mauritius to host that meeting, which was to include a high-level segment. The Programme of Action was adopted by the United Nations Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, which met in Barbados in 1994.
On 22 December 2004, the Assembly urged the highest level of participation at the International Meeting (A/RES/59/229) and called upon the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to continue contributing to preparations for it (A/RES/59/226). 

World Conference on Disaster Reduction
(Kobe, Japan, 18 - 22 January 2005)

On 23 December 2003, the General Assembly decided to convene a World Conference on Disaster Reduction at Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005 ( A/RES/58/214). Its aim would include identifying activities to implement relevant provisions of the implementation plan the World Summit on Sustainable Development -- in such areas as vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management; sharing best practices and lessons learned; increasing awareness of the importance of disaster reduction policies; and increasing the reliability and availability of disaster related information to the public and disaster-management agencies in all regions.
The Assembly invited Member States, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations - in particular, the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction - to participate actively in the Conference and its preparation. It asked the interagency secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction to serve as secretariat for the Conference and coordinate its preparatory activities.
On 22 December 2004, the Assembly emphasized that the World Conference should make concrete recommendations to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of all countries, in particular developing countries, in relation to disasters - including through the provision of technical and financial assistance, and through the strengthening of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction national plat­forms for disaster reduction -- or the establishment of appropriate institutional mechanisms, including at the regional level (A/RES/59/233).
The Assembly urged the international community to continue to address ways and means, including through cooperation and technical assistance, to reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters, including those caused by extreme weather events, in particular in vulnerable developing countries, through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Special Solemn Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate the Sixtieth Anniversary of the End of the Second World War (New York, during second week of May 2005)

On 22 November 2004, the General Assembly decided to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War by holding a special solemn plenary meeting during the second week of May 2005, in commemoration of the sacrifices made during the War ( A/RES/59/26).

Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (New York, 2-27 May 2005)

The Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will hold their next review conference from 2 to 27 May in New York. The General Assembly, on 3 December 2004, reaffirmed the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty and called upon States not party to it to accede to it as non-nuclear weapon States. It encouraged all States parties to make maximum efforts for a successful review conference in 2005 ( A/RES/59/76).

United Nations Conference to Review Progress made in implementing the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (New York, 26 June-7 July 2006)

A United Nations conference to review progress made in implementing the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects will be held in New York from 26 June to 7 July 2006. By its resolution A/RES/59/86 of 3 December 2004, the Assembly set that date, and decided that the preparatory committee for that conference will be held in New York from 9 to 20 January 2006, with a subsequent session of up to two weeks if necessary. It also decided that the second biennial meeting of States to consider implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and global levels will take place in New York from 11 to 15 July 2005.

Second High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development (New York, 27 and 28 June)

On 27 and 28 June 2005, the Assembly will hold a second High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, following up on its first High-level Dialogue on Development in October 2003 ( A/RES/59/145). In accordance with resolution 58/230 of 27 February 2004, the High-level Dialogue will be held at the ministerial level, immediately prior to the high-level segment of the 2005 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council. This will enable the Dialogue to provide input for the preparatory process for the high-level plenary meeting on implementation of the Millennium Declara­tion. The International Conference on Financing for Development was held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002.

High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly "The 2005 World Summit" (New York, 14-16 September 2005)

The General Assembly will hold a three-day, High-level Plenary Meeting at the opening of its sixtieth session to review implementation of its "Millennium Declaration", in the five years since it was adopted. From 14 to 16 September 2005, the Assembly will hold six plenary meetings on this subject. There will also be four interactive round-table sessions, each one covering the entire agenda of the summit.
The High-level Meeting is to include the participation of Heads of State and Government, and the Assembly has encouraged all Member States to be represented at that level ( A/RES/59/145 of 17 December 2004).
The Millennium Declaration, adopted at the close of the historic Millennium Summit in September 2000, set out specific, attainable goals aimed at achieving a better and safer world in the new century through collective security and a global partnership for development. The Assembly originally called for this high-level review in its resolution A/RES/58/291 of 6 May 2004.

World Summit on the Information Society
(Tunis, 16-18 November 2005)

The second, concluding part of the World Summit on the Information Society will be held in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005. The first part of the Summit, held at Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, addressed a broad range of themes concerning the information society and adopted a Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action.  At the invitation of the General Assembly, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has the leading managerial role for the Summit.
By its resolution A/RES/59/220 of 22 December 2004, the Assembly invited countries to be represented at the Summit at the highest possible level, and called for voluntary contributions by the international community to ITU's special fund to support preparations for the Summit.
Webpage

1997-2006
United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty

The General Assembly proclaimed the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty on 20 December 1995 to follow up on the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, 1996, with the objective to eradicating absolute poverty and substantially reducing overall poverty worldwide ( A/RES/51/178 of 16 December 1996).
On 22 December 2004, the Assembly stressed the importance of enhanced and predictable aid flows to ensure the sustainability of the development and poverty eradication efforts of developing countries (A/RES/59/247). It urged countries to direct resources freed through debt relief, particularly through debt cancellation and reduction, towards poverty-eradication activities, sustainable economic growth, sustainable development and internationally agreed development goals. It called on developed countries to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms.
The Assembly also emphasized the critical role of formal and non-formal education, especially for girls, in empowering those living in poverty. It urged governments and the international community to give urgent priority to combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious, contagious diseases, and emphasized the link between poverty eradication and improving access to safe drinking water, as well as the need to meet goals for improved access to basic sanitation.

2001-2010
Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa

On 7 September 2001, the General Assembly proclaimed the period 2001-2010 as the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa ( A/RES/55/284). In its efforts to address one of the most deadly tropical diseases -- which causes some 1 million deaths each year in Africa where nine out of 10 cases occur -- the Assembly called for joint comprehensive efforts by Africa and the international community to reach certain goals by 2005, the middle of the Decade.
These include ensuring that at least 60 per cent of those at risk for malaria shall benefit from the most suitable combination of personal and community protective measures, such as insecticide treated bednets; that at least 60 per cent of all pregnant women at risk for malaria shall have access chemoprophylaxis or presumptive intermittent treatment; and that at least 60 per cent of those suffering from malaria shall have prompt access to correct, affordable and appropriate treatment within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

2001-2010
Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010)

On 8 December 2000, as the General Assembly observed the fortieth anniversary of its adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, it declared 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism ( A/RES/55/146).
On 22 December 2004, the Assembly urged Member States to contribute to the United Nations efforts to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade, giving their full support to the Special Committee on decolonization in that endeavour ( A/RES/59/134). Addressing the situation of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, the Assembly reaffirmed the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination in conformity with the United Nations Charter and the General Assembly Declaration on decolonization (resolution 1514 (XV)).
The Assembly reaffirmed that there is no alternative to self-determination, and called on the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes in the Territories to foster awareness among their peoples of their right to self-determination. It also reaffirmed the responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the socio-economic development and preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and request the Territories and administering Powers to protect the environment of the Territories under their administration against environmental degradation.
The first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, 1990-2000, was declared in 1988 ( A/RES/43/47).

2001-2010
International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World

On 15 December 2004, the General Assembly again stated that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World is to further strengthen the global movement for a culture of peace (A/RES/59/143). It invited States to continue to expand their activities promoting such a culture and encouraged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as lead agency for the Decade, to further strengthen its activities to promote a culture of peace.
The Assembly proclaimed the International Decade in 1998, following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000 ( A/RES/53/25 of 10 November). It invited non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and groups, educational institutions, artists and the media to support the Decade for the benefit of every child of the world.

2003-2012
United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All

On 19 December 2001, the General Assembly proclaimed 2003 to 2012 as the United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All ( A/RES/56/116). It reaffirmed that literacy for all was at the heart of the notion of basic education for all, and that creating literate environments was essential to eradicating poverty, achieving gender equity and ensuring sustainable development.
On 20 December 2004, the Assembly appealed to all Governments to develop reliable literacy data and information and to devise innovative strategies to achieve the goals of the Decade. It appealed to all Governments and to economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater financial and material support to efforts to increase literacy. The Assembly invited Member States, United Nations bodies and relevant intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations to intensify their efforts to implement the International Plan of Action for the Decade (A/RES/59/149).

2005-2014
Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People

By its resolution A/RES/59/174 of 20 December 2004, the General Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, beginning 1 January 2005, with the goal of further strengthening international cooperation to solve problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and economic and social development. It asked the Secretary-General to appoint the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs as the Coordinator for the Second Decade, and invited Governments to ensure that activities and objectives for the Second Decade are planned and implemented in full collaboration with indigenous people.
The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary fund for the Second Decade, urging Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to it. It also urged that competent United Nations organs, programmes and specialized agencies, in planning activities for the Second Decade, examine how existing programmes and resources might be used to benefit indigenous people more effectively.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/aboutPFII/members.htm

2005-2014
United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

The General Assembly, on 20 December 2002, proclaimed the 10-year period beginning on 1 January 2005 as the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development ( A/RES/57/254). The Assembly designated the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organiza­tion (UNESCO) as lead agency for promotion of the Decade, asking it to develop a draft International Implementation Scheme, clarifying the Decade's relationship with such existing educational processes as the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum in 2002 and the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012).
On 22 December 2004, the Assembly requested that the Secretary-General call upon UNESCO to finalize the draft Implementation Scheme as soon as possible, preferably by the beginning of the Decade, with a view to its submission to UNESCO's governing bodies for its final consideration and adoption (A/RES/59/237). It invited Governments to promote public awareness and wider partici­pa­tion in the Decade, including cooperation with and initiatives engaging civil society and other relevant stakeholders, especially at the beginning of the Decade.
Press Release

2005-2015
International Decade for Action, 'Water for Life'

On 23 December 2003, the General Assembly proclaimed the period from 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", commencing on World Water Day, 22 March 2005 ( A/RES/58/217). It welcomed the decision of the Commission on Sustainable Development to consider water, sanitation and human settlements as the thematic cluster in the first cycle, 2004-2005, and invites the Commission to work within existing resources to identify possible activities and programmes in connection with the Decade within the framework of its consideration of  that cluster at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions.
The Assembly invited the Secretary-General to take the appropriate steps to organize the activities of the Decade, taking into account the results of the International Year of Freshwater and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions. It also called upon the relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions and other organizations of the United Nations system to deliver a coordinated response, utilizing existing resources and voluntary funds, to make "Water for Life" a decade for action. By its resolution A/RES/59/228 of 22 December 2004, the Assembly called on the United Nations system to step up efforts to make the International Decade a period for delivering on promises through the use of existing resources and voluntary funds.
Press Release, Preliminary Elements of a Communication Stategy prepared for the International Decade of Action 'Water for Life': 2005-2015

2005
International Year of Microcredit

In 1998, proclaiming 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit ( A/RES/53/197 of 15 December), the General Assembly requested that the Year's observance be a special occasion for giving impetus to microcredit programmes in all countries, particularly the developing countries. The Assembly asked all those involved in poverty eradication to take additional steps to make available credit and related services for self-employment and income-generating activities to an increasing number of people living in poverty. Governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the media were invited to highlight the role of microcredit in poverty eradication, its contribution to social development, and its positive impact on the lives of the poor.
On 22 December 2004, the Assembly emphasized that observance of the International Year provides a significant opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of microcredit in the eradication of poverty, to share good practices and to further enhance financial sectors that support sustainable, pro-poor financial services in all countries. It also recognized that access to microfinance and micro­credit can contribute to achievement of the goals and targets of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields -- including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration (A/RES/59/246). 
Brochure

2005
International Year for Sport and Physical Education

On 3 November 2003, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 2005 as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace ( A/RES/58/5). It invited governments to organize events to underline their commitment and to seek the assistance of sports personalities in that regard.
Subsequently, the Assembly decided to launch the International Year on 5 November 2004 ( A/RES/59/10 of 27 October 2004). It invited Governments, the United Nations system and appropriate sport-related institutions to promote the role of sport and physical education in development, and in advancing health awareness, the spirit of achievement, cultural bridging and collective values. The Assembly stressed the need for all parties to cooperate closely with international sports bodies to elaborate a "code of good practice", and invited Governments to accelerate the elaboration of an international anti-doping convention in all sports activities.

2005
International Year of Physics

By the terms of resolution A/RES/58/293, the Assembly declared the year 2005 the International Year of Physics, and invited the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to organize activities celebrating the Year, collaborating with physics societies and groups throughout the world, including in the developing countries.

2006
International Year of Deserts and Desertification

On 23 December 2003, the General Assembly decided to declare 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification ( A/RES/58/211). It invited all countries to establish national committees or focal points and to celebrate the Year by arranging appropriate activities. It called upon all relevant international organizations and Member States to support the activities related to desertification, including land degradation, to be organized by affected countries, in particular, African countries and least developed countries.
The Assembly has designated the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, as focal point of the Year, in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and other relevant United Nations bodies.

8 March
United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace

In 1977 ( A/RES/32/142), the General Assembly invited States to proclaim, in accordance with their historical and national traditions and customs, any day of the year as United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. States were called upon to contribute to creating conditions for the elimi­nation of discrimination against women and for their full and equal participation in social develop­ment. That action came on the wake of the International Women's Year (1975) and the United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985), both proclaimed by the Assembly. The United Nations began observing International Women's Day, 8 March, in 1975 -- the International Women's Year.

21 March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination ( resolution 2142 (XXI)).

beginning on 21 March
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination

As part of its programme for the first Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, the General Assembly in 1979 called for the observance by all States of a Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, beginning on 21 March ( A/RES/34/24).

22 March
World Day for Water

The General Assembly has declared 22 March as World Day for Water ( A/RES/47/193 of 22 December 1992). The observance aims at promoting awareness of the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well-being.

24 March
World Tuberculosis Day

World Tuberculosis Day, held annually on 24 March, commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch presented his discovery of the TB bacillus to a group of doctors in Berlin. This year, World TB Day will focus on the efforts of frontline TB care providers and their crucial role in stopping TB.
Brochure

7 April
World Health Day

Highlighting an invisible health crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) is making maternal and child health the focus of   World Health Day. The WHO is also launching the World Health Report -- also dedicated to maternal and child health -- on World Health Day for the first time ever.

3 May
World Press Freedom Day

The General Assembly in 1993 declared 3 May as World Press Freedom Day (decision 48/432 of 20 December). This action stemmed from the UNESCO General Conference, which, by a 1991 resolution on "Promotion of press freedom in the world", had recognized that a free, pluralistic and independent press was an essential component of any democratic society. The General Conference had trans­mitted to the General Assembly the wish of UNESCO member States to have 3 May declared " Inter­national Press Freedom Day".
That date commemorates the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, adopted on 3 May 1991 by the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, organized by UNESCO and the United Nations in Windhoek, Namibia.

8-9 May
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War

By its resolution A/RES/59/26 of 22 November 2004, the General Assembly declared 8 and 9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation, and invited Member States, United Nations bodies, nongovernmental organizations and individuals to observe annually either one or both of those days in an appropriate manner, to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

15 May
International Day of Families

In 1993, the General Assembly decided that 15 May of every year should be observed as the Inter­na­tional Day of Families (A/RES/47/237 of 20 September). In 1989, by resolution  A/RES/44/82, the Assembly had proclaimed 1994 the International Year of the Family, to increase awareness of family issues and improve the capability of nations to tackle family-related problems with comprehensive policies.

21 May
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Emphasizing the need to enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence, the General Assembly, on 20 December 2002, proclaimed 21 May the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development ( A/RES/57/249). Acting during the closing days of the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage (2002), the Assembly recognized the close link between protecting cultural diversity and the larger framework of the dialogue among civilizations.

22 May
International Day for Biological Diversity

On 20 December 2000, the General Assembly proclaimed 22 May, the date of adoption of the Conven­tion on Biological Diversity, as the International Day for Biological Diversity ( A/RES/55/201). The Day was previously observed on 29 December ( A/RES/49/119 of 19 December 1994). In 2000, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, at its fifth meeting, had recommended that the date be changed to give it greater visibility.

Beginning 25 May
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

The General Assembly in 1999 requested the Special Committee on decolonization to observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories commencing on the week beginning 25 May 1999 ( A/RES/54/91 of 6 December). The Week had been proclaimed in 1972 ( resolution 2911 (XXVII)) as the Week of Solidarity with the Colonial Peoples of Southern Africa and Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde Fighting for Freedom, Independence and Equal Rights, to begin on 25 May, Africa Liberation Day.

29 May
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

The Assembly has designated 29 May of each year as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace ( A/RES/57/129, 11 December 2002). The Assembly invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe the Day in an appropriate manner. 

4 June
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

On 19 August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly, "appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel's acts of aggression", decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (resolution ES-7/8).

5 June
World Environment Day

By resolution 2994 (XXVII)) of 15 December 1972, the General Assembly designated 5 June as World Environment Day to deepen public awareness of the need to preserve and enhance the environment. That date recalls the opening day of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972), which led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

17 June
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June, was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1995 ( A/RES/49/115), marking the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on 17 June 1994. The Assembly invited States to devote the World Day to promoting awareness of the need for international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought, including implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification.

20 June
World Refugee Day

On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly noted that 2001 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June. It, therefore, decided that, as from 2001, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day ( A/RES/55/76). [Note: The OAU was replaced by the African Union on 9 July 2002.]

23 June
United Nations Public Service Day

The Assembly, on 20 December, designated 23 June of each year as United Nations Public Service Day ( A/RES/57/277). It encouraged Member States to organize special events on that Day to high­light the contribution of public service in the development process.

26 June
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The General Assembly in 1987 decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. It took that action on 7 December 1987 ( A/RES/42/112), following a recommendation of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which, on 26 June, had adopted the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control.

26 June
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

The Assembly in 1997, on the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council ( decision 1997/251), proclaimed 26 June United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture ( A/RES/52/149 of 12 December). The Day aims at the eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punish­ment, which entered into force on 26 June 1987.

First Saturday of July
International Day of Cooperatives

In 1992, the General Assembly proclaimed the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Cooperatives ( A/RES/47/90 of 16 December). The date marked the centenary of the International Cooperative Alliance, an umbrella group of organizations comprising 760 million members in 100 countries.
In 1994, recognizing that cooperatives were becoming an indispensable factor of economic and social development, the Assembly invited governments, international organizations, specialized agen­cies and national and international cooperative organizations to observe the Day every year ( A/RES/49/155 of 23 December).

11 July
World Population Day

In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recommended that 11 July be observed as World Population Day. An outgrowth of the Day of Five Billion, celebrated on 11 July 1987, the Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, particularly in the context of overall development plans and programmes, and the need to find solutions for these issues. According to the Population Division of the United Nations, world population totalled 6.3 billion in 2002, and was growing by some 77 million a year. The United Nations estimates that there will be between 7.4 billion and 12.8 billion people in 2050, with 8.9 billion the most likely projection.

9 August
International Day of the World's Indigenous People

In 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People ( A/RES/49/214 of 23 December). By its resolution A/RES/59/174 of 20 December 2004, in which the Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (2005-2014), it also decided to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People every year during the Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to support observance of the Day from within existing resources, and to encourage Governments to observe the Day at the national level.

12 August
International Youth Day

The General Assembly on 17 December 1999 ( A/RES/54/120 I) endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. It recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the Assembly in 1995 ( A/RES/50/81).

16 September
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

In 1994, the General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer ( A/RES/49/114). States were invited to devote the Day to promote activities in accordance with the objectives of the Protocol and its amendments. The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus, helping preserve life on the planet.

21 September
International Day of Peace

In 1981, the General Assembly declared that the opening day of its regular session in September "shall be officially dedicated and observed as the International Day of Peace and shall be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples" ( A/RES/36/67). In 1998, the Assembly reaffirmed that the Day should continue to be observed on the opening day of its annual regular session ( A/RES/52/232 of 4 June).
On 7 September 2001, the Assembly decided that, beginning in 2002, the International Day of Peace shall be observed on 21 September each year, with  this date to be brought to the attention of all people for the celebration and observance of peace ( A/RES/55/282). It declared that the Day shall, henceforth, be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities throughout the Day. It also invited Member States, United Nations bodies, regional and non-governmental organizations to commemorate the Day and to cooperate with the United Nations in establishing the global ceasefire.

1 October
International Day of Older Persons

The General Assembly designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons by resolution A/RES/45/106 of 14 December 1990, following up on United Nations initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the General Assembly.

4-10 October
World Space Week

By resolution A/RES/54/68 of 6 December 1999, the General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week, to be observed between 4 and 10 October, to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. The dates recall the launch, on 4 October 1957, of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, and the entry into force, on 10 October 1967, of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space.
( Fact Sheet and School project)

World Habitat Day
(First Monday of October, 3 October 2005)
 

In 1985, acting on a recommendation of the Commission on Human Settlements, the General Assembly designated the first Monday of October as World Habitat Day ( A/RES/40/202 A ). The first observance of the Day, in 1986, marked the tenth anniversary of the first international conference on the issue -- Habitat: United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Vancouver, Canada, 1976).

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction (second Wednesday of October)

In 2001, the General Assembly decided to maintain the observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second Wednesday of October ( A/RES/56/195 of 21 December), as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction - including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The Assembly had designated that day to be observed during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999 ( A/RES/44/236).

16 October
World Food Day

The aim of World Food Day, proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the FAO of the United Nations, is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The Day marks the date of the founding of the FAO in 1945. In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity" ( A/RES/35/70 of 5 December).

17 October
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

In 1992, the General Assembly, welcoming the fact that certain NGOs, on the initiative of one of them (the French-based International Movement ATD Fourth World), had, in many States, observed 17 Octo­ber as World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, declared that date the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ( A/RES/47/196 of 22 December). The observance aims to promote aware­ness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries -- a need that has become a development priority.

24 October
United Nations Day

The anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter on 24 October 1945 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948.  It has traditionally been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the achievements and goals of the Organization.  In 1971, the General Assembly recommended that Member States observe it as a public holiday ( resolution 2782 (XXVI)).

24 October
World Development Information Day

The General Assembly in 1972 instituted World Development Information Day to draw the attention of world public opinion to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them ( resolution 3038 (XXVII)). The Assembly decided that the date for the Day should coincide in principle with United Nations Day, 24 October, which was also the date of the adoption, in 1970, of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade. The Assembly felt that improving the dissemination of information and the mobilization of public opinion, particularly among young people, would lead to greater awareness of the problems of development, thus, promoting efforts in the sphere of international cooperation for development.

24-30 October
Disarmament Week

The annual observance of Disarmament Week, which begins on the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, was called for in the Final Document of the General Assembly 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2). States were invited to highlight the danger of the arms race, pro­pagate the need for its cessation and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disar­mament.
In 1995, the Assembly invited governments, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to continue taking an active part in Disarmament Week ( A/RES/50/72 B of 12 December). It invited the Secretary-General to continue using the United Nations information entities as widely as possible to promote a better understanding among the public of disarmament problems and the aims of the Week.

6 November
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

On 5 November 2001, the General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict ( A/RES/56/4). In taking this action, it considered that damage to the environment in times of armed conflict impairs eco­systems and natural resources long after the period of conflict, often extending beyond the limits of national territories and the present generation. It also recalled the United Nations Millennium Declara­tion, which emphasized the necessity of working to protect our common environment.

16 November
International Day for Tolerance

In 1996, the General Assembly invited Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November, with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public ( A/RES/51/95 of 12 December). This action came in the wake of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the Assembly in 1993 ( A/RES/48/126). The Year had been declared on the initiative of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); on 16 November 1995, the UNESCO member States had adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year.
Fact Sheet

20 November
Africa Industrialization Day

Within the framework of the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, the General Assembly proclaimed 20 November as Africa Industrialization Day ( A/RES/44/237 of 22 December 1989). The Day is intended to mobilize the commitment of the international community to the industrialization of Africa.

20 November
Universal Children's Day

The General Assembly recommended in 1954 (resolution 836 (IX)) that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children. It suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date which each considers appropriate. The date of 20 November marks the day in which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

21 November
World Television Day

In 1996, the General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day, commemorating the date on which, in 1996, the first World Television Forum was held at the United Nations. States were invited to observe the Day by encouraging global exchanges of television programmes focusing on issues such as peace, security, economic and social development, and the enhancement of cultural exchanges ( A/RES/51/205 of 17 December).

25 November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The General Assembly has designated 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and has invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize on that day activities to raise public awareness on the problem ( A/RES/54/134 of 17 December 1999). Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. The date came from the brutal 1961 assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo.

29 November
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People ( A/RES/32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly had adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)).
On 1 December 2003 , by its resolution A/RES/59/29, the Assembly encouraged Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. The Assembly requested that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat, as part of that observance, continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.

1 December
World AIDS Day

The General Assembly, in 1988, stated its deep concern about the pandemic proportions of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared 1 December 1988 World AIDS Day, the Assembly stressed the importance of observing that occasion ( A/RES/43/15). Today, over 41 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.

2 December
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of Others ( resolution 317 (IV) of 2 December 1949).

3 December
International Day of Disabled Persons

In 1992, at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons ( A/RES/47/3). The Decade had been a period of raising awareness and enacting measures to improve the situation of persons with disabilities and to provide them with equal opportunities. Subsequently, the Assembly appealed to Member States to highlight the observance of the Day in order to further integrate people with disabilities into society ( A/RES/47/88).

5 December
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

The General Assembly has invited governments to observe the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on 5 December each year ( A/RES/40/212 of 17 December 1985). It urged them to heighten awareness of the contribution made by volunteer service, thereby stimulating people in all walks of life to offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad. In 2001, the International Year of Volunteers, the Assembly adopted a set of recommendations on ways that governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering and asked that they be widely disseminated ( A/RES/56/38 of 5 December 2001).

7 December
International Civil Aviation Day

In 1996, the General Assembly proclaimed 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day, and urged governments, as well as national, regional, international and intergovernmental organizations, to take steps to observe it ( A/RES/51/33 of 6 December).  The Day had been declared in 1992 by the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations specialized agency, to highlight and advance the benefits of international civil aviation. Observation of the Day started on 7 December 1994 -- the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which established ICAO.

9 December
International Anti-Corrupution Day 

The General Assembly in its Resolution A/RES/58/4 decided that, in order to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it, 9 December should be designated International Anti-Corruption Day.
The UN Convention against Corruption, launched for signature at the High-level Political Conference in Mérida, Mexico, in December 2003, is the most decisive step taken so far in a process that began in earnest in the 1990s. At that time, an effort was initiated to stop accepting corruption as an inevitable fact of life, and to identify it as one of the major impediments to development, one that ultimately hurts the world's poorest people the most.
In August 2001, under the impetus of a General Assembly resolution, the United Nations convened an Intergovernmental Open-Ended Expert Group on the issue. Based on their recommendation, an ad hoc committee of the General Assembly began the task of drafting an anti-corruption treaty in 2002. The proposed convention gathered important political support at the March 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development, which included anti-corruption as one of the keystones of its Monterrey Consensus on development policy.

10 December
Human Rights Day

All States and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10 December as Human Rights Day (resolution 423 (V)). The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

18 December
International Migrants Day

As recommended by the Economic and Social Council (decision 2000/288 of 28 July 2000), the General Assembly has proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day ( A/RES/55/93 of 4 Decem­ber 2000). On that day, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted in 1990 ( A/RES/45/158). The Assembly has stressed the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants. It is estimated that one in every 35 persons in the world is a migrant, living and working in a country other than his or her own. All countries have migrants among their population.

19 December
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

On 23 December 2004, the General Assembly declared 19 December of each year as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation ( A/RES/58/220). This marks the date, in 1978, when the General Assembly endorsed the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (resolution 33/134).