The United Nations General Assembly establishes special days and weeks to raise an issue of international importance. It is usually declared to call upon the world to commemorate a day of great celebration or of great loss. Listed below are some of the days designated by the United Nations.

Human Rights Day

On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Every year since, December 10 is known as Human Rights Day.

International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women

Established in 1999 when a resolution designating November 25 as the yearly-celebrated International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women was passed by the General Assembly.

The Dominican Republic introduced the resolution on the anniversary of the 1960 murder of the Mirabal sisters.

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Generally held on November 29 each year, although in 2003, the UN itself observed the day on December 1. The events are held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States, and at its offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and and Vienna, Austria.

It is held in accordance with mandates given by the General Assembly in its resolutions 32/40 B of December 2, 1977, 34/65 D of December 12, 1979, 56/34 of December 3, 2001, and other relevant resolutions.

Special commemorative activities are organized by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat , in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

International Mother Language Day

Since 2000, UNESCO has celebrated February 21 as International Mother Language Day – the day when the mother tongues of all people should be recognized and spoken. [1]

This is mostly the international recognition of Language Martyrs' Day, which is commemorated in Bangladesh since 1952.

Peace One Day

Every September 21, there is a public call for an international ceasefire. Website

United Nations Day

October 24. An international celebration that commemorates the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945, thus creating the United Nations. This day also serves as a flag day for Sweden. [2]