General Knowledge

International observance (also known as international dedication or international anniversary) denotes a period of time to observe some issue of international interest or concern. This is used to commemorate, promote and mobilize for action. Many of these periods have been established by the United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council or by UNESCO.

Weeks

March 21-27 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN

May 25-31 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, recognized by the UN

October 4-10 - World Space Week, recognized by the UN

October 24-30 - Disarmament Week, recognized by the UN

Years

Before 1950

1882/1883 - International Polar Year

1932/1933 - International Polar Year

1950s

1957/1958 - International Geophysical Year

1959/1960 - World Refugee Year

1960s

1961 - International Health and Medical Research Year

1965 - International Cooperation Year

1967 - International Tourist Year

1968 - International Year for Human Rights

1970s

1970 - International Education Year

1971 - International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

1974 - World Population Year

1975 - International Women's Year

1978/1979 - International Anti-Apartheid Year

1979 - International Year of the Child

1980s

1981 - International Year of Disabled Persons

1982 - International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa

1983 - World Communications Year

1984 - Year of Women in South Africa

1985 - Year of the United Nations

1985 - International Youth Year

1986 - International Year of Peace

1987 - International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

1990s

1990 - International Literacy Year - United Nations General Assembly Resolution 104
session 42 International Literacy Year on 7 December 1987

1992 - International Space Year

1993 - International Year of the World's Indigenous People

1994 - International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal

1994 - International Year of the Family

1995 - World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War

1995 - United Nations Year for Tolerance

1996 - International Year for the Eradication of Poverty

1998 - International Year of the Ocean

1999 - International Year of Older Persons

2000s

2000 - International Year of Thanksgiving

2000 - International Year for the Culture of Peace

2000 - World Mathematical Year

2001 - International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

2001 - International Year of Volunteers

2001 - United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations

2002 - International Year of Ecotourism

2002 - International Year of Mountains United Nations General Assembly Resolution 24 session 53 (retrieved 2007-11-19)

2002 - United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage

2003 - International Year of Freshwater

2003 - European Disability Year

2004 - International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition

2004 - International Year of Rice

2005 - International Year for Sport and Physical Education

2005 - International Year of Microcredit

2005 - World Year of Physics (declared by IUPAP)

2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification

2007 - Year of the Dolphin (extended to 2008)

2007-2008 - International Heliophysical Year

2007-2008-(2009) - International Polar Year

(2007)-2008-(2009) - International Year of Planet Earth (N.B. Triennium) and

2007 - Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia

2008 - International Year of Languages

2008 - International Year of the Potato

2008 - International Year of Sanitation

2008 - International Year of the Frog

2009 - International Year of Astronomy proposal accepted by 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by United Nations 62nd General Assembly)

2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres

2009 - International Year of Reconciliation

2010s

2010 - International Year of Communications, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures

2011 - International Year of Forests


Decades

1976–1985 - United Nations Decade for Women, recognized by the UN

1990s - International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction

1994–2004 - First International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN

1997–2006 - First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, recognized by the UN

2000–2010 - Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, recognized by the UN

2000-2010 - Bone and Joint Decade, recognised by WHO

2001–2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, recognized by the UN

2001-2010 - Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa (2001-2010), recognized by the UN

2003–2012 - United Nations Literacy Decade, recognized by the UN

2005–2014 - United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development, recognized by the UN

2005–2014 - Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, recognized by the UN

2005–2015 - Water for Life Decade, recognized by the UN