World Habitat Day

on 05 October 2020.

“The urgency of improving living conditions has been brought to the fore by COVID-19, which has devastated the lives of millions in cities. Access to clean water and sanitation, along with social distancing, are key responses to the pandemic. Yet in slums it has proved difficult to implement these measures. This means an increased risk of infection, not only within slums, but in whole cities.” – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as the World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of the towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. As COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, people have been told to stay at home, but this simple measure is impossible for people who do not have adequate housing. Having an adequate home is now, more than ever, a matter of life and death. Hence, the World Habitat Day 2020 theme is “Housing For All — A Better Urban Future”.

International Day of Non-Violence

on 01 October 2020.

International Day of Non-Violence

“We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word, and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make strong progress towards it.” - Mahatma Gandhi

The name of Mahatma Gandhi transcends the bounds of race, religion, and nation-states. Today, on 2 October, we celebrate the birthday of a man who helped bring forward the notion of “non-violence”. He is also remembered for his passionate adherence to the practice of nonviolence and supreme humanism.

On the International Day of Non-Violence, created by the United Nations in 2007, we look back on how Gandhi’s work and legacy has impacted global non-violent protests, marches, and vigils. This day is recognised and commemorated as a means of reaffirming the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding.

International Translation Day

on 29 September 2020.

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education, and development, are of strategic importance for people and the planet. There are the translators and interpreters who bring cultural narratives alive as they convey them to a wider and cross-cultural audience. Each year on 30 September, translators, interpreters, and terminologists are celebrated on the International Translation Day.

The International Translation Day is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening of world peace and security. Interpreters of indigenous languages give native speakers a chance to fully participate in cultural life of society and offer equality of access to basic services such as: health care, education, information, and justice in their mother tongue.

International Day For Universal Access to Information

on 28 September 2020.

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Informed citizens can make informed decisions. In a world where COVID-19 pandemic has caused chaos and complexity, access to reliable and verified information is more important than ever, in order to encourage healthy behaviours and save lives. Therefore, universal access to information is a cornerstone for an healthy and inclusive knowledgeable societies.

Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive, and impart information. This right is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression. Hence, media plays a crucial role in informing the public about issues of interest, but it relies on the ability to seek and receive information, too. Therefore, the right to universal access to information is also bound up with the right to freedom of the press.

International Day of Sign Language

on 23 September 2020.

"The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, launched last year, aims to strengthen our efforts to ensure the meaningful participation and full inclusion of people with disabilities in all that we do, including in times of crisis. That is the only way to fulfil the central promise of the 2030 Agenda – to leave no one behind.." — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realisation of the human rights of people who are deaf. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises and promotes the use of sign languages. It makes clear that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages and obligates states parties to facilitate the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community.

World Habitat Day

International Day of Non-Violence

International Translation Day

International Day For Universal Access to Information

International Day of Sign Language

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