Young people attend the launch of the 2010 International Year of Youth on the theme ""Dialogue and Mutual Understanding"", inside the General Assembly Hall, at UN Headquarters. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras
These are the international years currently observed by the United Nations. The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution. On occasion, these celebrations are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by the General Assembly.
2027
International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism
A/RES/78/260
2026
International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development
A/RES/78/127
2023
International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace
A/RES/77/32
2022
International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development
A/RES/76/14
2010
International Year of the Seafarer
2009
International Year of Human Rights Learning
A/RES/62/171
2009
Year of the Gorilla [UNEP and UNESCO]
2006
International Year of Deserts and Desertification
A/RES/58/211
2005
International Year for Sport and Physical Education
A/RES/58/5
2004
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
A/RES/57/195
2002
United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage
A/RES/56/8
2001
United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations
A/RES/53/22
2001
International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
A/RES/53/132
2000
International Year for the Culture of Peace
A/RES/52/15
1996
International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
A/RES/48/183
1995
World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War
A/RES/49/25
1994
International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
A/RES/48/10
1985
International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace
A/RES/34/151
1983
World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures
A/RES/36/40
1982
International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa
A/RES/36/172 B
1971
International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice
A/RES/2544 (XXIV)
