The International Day of Families is to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. Recognised as the basic unit of society, the United Nations acknowledges how families have changed over time, both in structure and due to global socioeconomic trends, and that families and family-oriented policies and programmes are vital for […]
The International Day of Light celebrates the role light plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, as well as in such fields as medicine, communications and energy. It is to enable these different sectors of society globally to participate in integrated activities that help to build the foundations for peaceful societies. The […]
Following the devastation of the Second World War, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all. In 1999, the UN adopted the Declaration and Programme […]
Also known as World Information Society Day, this Day highlights the possibilities that the Internet and other information and communication technology (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways of bridging the digital divide. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the […]
World Bee Day seeks to lift awareness of the importance of pollinators. Increasingly under threat from human activity, bees contribute significantly to sustainable development, food security and to conserving biodiversity. The date coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša (1734–1773) who pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in Slovenia.
Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia sinesis plant, and is the world’s most consumed drink, after water. Originating from northeast India, north Myanmar and southwest China, there is evidence of tea being consumed in China 5,000 years ago. Tea production and processing are major livelihood sources for millions of families in developing countries. […]
The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted in 2001 by UNESCO and in 2002 the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was established to affirm culture’s contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, acknowledge further the natural and cultural diversity of the world, and recognise that cultures and civilizations can […]
Biological diversity refers to the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, the genetic differences within each species, and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kinds of interactions among their members (humans, plants, animals). The International Day for Biological Diversity was established in 2000 in recognition of the Convention […]
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide are affected by obstetric fistula annually. Obstetric fistula, an abnormal opening between a woman’s genital tract and her urinary tract or rectum, results in constant incontinence, shame, social segregation and health problems. More than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula […]
The Day of the Full Moon in May, Vesak is a sacred day for Buddhists as it is the birth date in the year 623 BC of Buddha, as well as the day that Buddha attained enlightenment and the day of his death at age 18. Day of Vesak is to acknowledge the contribution of […]