2023 Theme Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”. These include technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies […]

Honouring the contributions of the African diaspora The International Day for People of African Descent was celebrated for the first time on 31 August 2021. Through this Observance the United Nations aimed to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent. International days reflect the values that society shares. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. Any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally […]

Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world 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. Despite steady progress made across the world, literacy challenges persist with at least 763 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills in 2020. The recent COVID-19 crisis and other crisis, such as climate change and conflicts, have been exacerbating the challenges. #LiteracyDay Celebrations in 2023 Rapidly changing global context took a new meaning over […]

Armed conflicts: When the noise of guns silences education Education is a fundamental human right. For children and youth caught up in emergency situations, education not only means the continuity of learning, but it also provides a sense of normalcy and the key to a different future, alerts the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). With the knowledge, skills and support gained through education, generations survive crises and lead the world toward a sustainable future. This is particularly true for vulnerable groups including girls, migrants, refugees and people with disabilities, among others. Places of education should be safe havens for children, […]

University sport has a very special place in the sporting world as a vector of human, social and civic values, fully integrated into the education of today’s and tomorrow’s citizens. By putting sport at the heart of dialogue between teachers and students, the International Day of University Sport, celebrated by UNESCO and the International University Sports Federation, aims to promote these values among young adults and, through them, to society as a whole. Dialogue, self-respect and respect for others, fair play and pursuit of excellence are all framing principles of student training. Education and sport need to be at the […]

2023 Theme Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more. This year’s theme is Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals. It is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the Sustainable Development […]

Sign languages unite us! The International Day of Sign Languages is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users. During the 2023 celebration of the International Day of Sign Languages, the world will once again highlight the unity generated by our sign languages. Deaf communities, governments and civil society organizations maintain their collective efforts - hand in hand - in fostering, promoting and recognizing national sign languages as part of their countries’ vibrant and diverse linguistic landscapes. According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more […]

Artificial intelligence, e-governance and access to information Artificial Intelligence and e-governance can play an important role to improve access to information in our digital world. They can help bridge the digital divide, by giving citizens access to tailor-made and accessible information. They can assure services that are more efficient. Citizens can access public sector information and services nearly instantly. Making government services digital enhances transparency and accessibility. However, these developments also raise questions about fundamental rights and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence and e-Governance by public institutions. Since Artificial Intelligence uses citizen data, how do we protect the privacy of […]

Say No to Violence The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence". Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, […]

World Teachers’ Day is held annually on 5 October to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. The Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education. World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated since 1994. It is a day to celebrate how teachers […]

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction addresses the reciprocal relationship between vulnerability to disasters and inequality. They are two sides of the same coin. While unequal access to services such as finance and insurance leaves the most at-risk people exposed to danger, the impacts of these disasters exacerbate inequality, pushing the most at-risk groups deeper into poverty. The UN General Assembly decided to designate October 13 as "International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction" (resolution 44/236) to raise awareness among governments and the public to take measures to minimize risks. Likewise, disasters, many of which have been aggravated by climate […]

A symbol of hope for global unity United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. No other global organization gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want. Today, the urgency for all countries to […]