History

Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programs, and inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of an individual with Down Syndrome.

Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.

International Women's Day is celebrated every March 8 around the world. It is a focal point in the movement for women's rights.

Between 200 and 350 million people live within or adjacent to forested areas around the world, relying on the various ecosystem services provided by forest and forest species for their livelihoods and to cover their most basic needs, including food, shelter, energy and medicines.

Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated by the United Nations and other international organisations. The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in November 1999.

Today is the World Day of Social Justice, and this year the theme is “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy.”

“On this World Radio Day, let us recognize the enduring power of radio to promote diversity and help build a more peaceful and inclusive world.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres

“To rise to the challenges of the 21st century, we need to harness our full potential. That requires dismantling gender stereotypes. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s pledge to end the gender imbalance in science.”

For farmers, pulses are an important crop because they can both sell them and consume them, which helps farmers maintain household food security and creates economic stability.

All Christians are invited to participate in an online Prayer Marathon on Monday, 8 February, marking the 7th International Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking.

In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.

The United Nations acknowledged that tolerance, pluralistic tradition, mutual respect and the diversity of religions and beliefs promote human fraternity.

This year’s theme shines a spotlight on wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages actions to restore them and stop their loss.

Today the United Nations commemorate the victims of the holocaust to remind the world of the lessons to be learnt from the Holocaust to help prevent future acts of genocide.

Education offers children a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future. But millions of children and adolescents around the world do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school.

Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the Feast of St. Peter's Chair on January 18 and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25.

World Braille Day is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for those who are blind or visually-impaired.

The year 2020 was marked by the massive Covid-19 health crisis… These and other events that marked humanity’s path this past year have taught us how important it is to care for one another and for creation in our efforts to build a more fraternal society. That is why I have chosen as the title of this year’s Message, A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace.

The United Nations' International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity. It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.