The United Nations designates specific days or weeks or years or decades to mark and promote occasions which need attention. Generally, Member States propose these designations and the General Assembly creates them with a resolution.
Sometimes these occasions are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations like UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when the concerned issues fall within their scope.
Since the year 1959 United Nations has designated International Years to grab the attention of the world onto main problems of global importance. The following are the international years as observed by the United Nations.
| Year |
Designation by United Nations |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
International Year of Camelids |
| 2022 |
International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| 2019 |
International Year of Indigenous Languages International Year of Moderation International Year of Periodic Table of Chemical Elements |
| 2018* | United Nations has not declared 2018 as International Year for any specific topic |
| 2017 | International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development |
| 2016 | International Year of Pulses |
| 2015 |
International Year of Soils International Year of Light and Light-based |
| 2014 |
International Year of Solidarity with Palestinian people International Year of Small Island Developing States International Year of Crystallography International Year of Family Farming |
| 2013 |
International Year of Water Cooperation International Year of Quinoa |
| 2012 |
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All International Year of Cooperatives |
| 2011 |
International Year of Youth International Year for People of African Descent, International Year of Chemistry International Year of Forest |
| 2010 |
International Year of Reapproachment of cultures International Year of Seafarer International Year of Bio-Diversity |
| 2009 |
International Year of Reconciliation International Year of Natural Fibres International year of Human Rights learning International Year of Astronomy International Year of Gorilla |
| 2008 |
International Potato Year International Earth Year International Year of Sanitation International Year of languages |
| 2007 | International Polar Year |
| 2006 | International Year of Deserts and Desertification |
| 2005 |
International Micro Credit Year International Physics Year International Sports and Physical Education |
| 2004 | International Rice Year |
| 2003 | International Fresh Water Year |
| 2002 | International Year for Cultural Heritage, Ecotourism year, Mountains |
| 2001 | International Year of Volunteers |
| 2000 | International Peace and Cultural Year |
| 1999 | International Old Age persons Year |
| 1998 | International Ocean Year |
| Year | Designation by United Nations |
|---|---|
| 1996 | International Poverty Eradication Year |
| 1995 | International Year of Tolerance |
| 1994 | International Year of the Family, Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal |
| 1993 | World’s Indigenous People year |
| 1992 | International Space Year |
| 1990 | International Literacy Year |
| 1987 | International Year of Shelter for the Homeless |
| 1986 | International Peace Year |
| 1985 | International Youth Year |
| 1983 | International Communication Year |
| 1982 | Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa |
| 1981 | International Disabled Persons year |
| 1979 | International Childrens Year |
| 1978/79 | International Anti-Apartheid year |
| 1975 | International Women’s Year |
| 1974 | International Population Year |
| 1971 | Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice |
| 1970 | International Education Year |
| 1968 | International Human Rights Year |
| 1967 | International Tourism year |
| 1965 | International Co-operation Year |
| 1961 | International Health and Medical Research year |
| 1959-60 | World Refugees year |
It is important to note that 2018 is not designated for any specific topic.
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