International Day of Non-Violence
Today we celebrate the birthday of a man who helped bring forward the notion of “non-violence,” and the tremendous impact this form of social response has had all over the world in the last century. On the International Day of Non-Violence, created by the United Nations in 2007, we look back on the influence of an Indian activist born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but known the world over as Mahatma Gandhi. The International Day of Non-Violence honors how Gandhi’s work and legacy has impacted global, non-violent protest.
World Habitat Day
"Solutions begin with small steps individuals can take to alter the way our cities function. We must reduce the amount of waste we produce, and, at the same time, start seeing it as a valuable resource that can be re-used and recycled, including for energy." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres
International Translation Day
Greater use of indigenous languages means a greater chance of their survival. Losing a language is more than just losing words; it is a loss of unique cultural perspectives and narratives contained within the language and culture, along with its contribution to the richness of diversity.
International Day for Universal Access to Information
Today, about half of the world’s population is still not using the Internet. That represents 3.8 billion people. In order to bring the rest of the population online, we need to assist our members to build the necessary infrastructure for connectivity, ensure digital inclusion for all, and deliver public services to remote areas.
International Day of Sign Language
"This International Day recognizes the importance of sign languages for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfilling its core promise of leaving no one behind. It also offers an opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all sign language users." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres