October

INTERNATIONAL DAYS INTERNATIONAL

DAYS OCTOBER

1st October – World Smile Day In 1963, Harvey Ball created the smiley face symbol – a yellow circle with black eye dots and a smile curve. World Smile Day began in 1999 and is on the first Friday of October each year. It is a Day to smile and to make small acts of kindness. Harvey wanted to keep the smile connected to the human being and to reflect his original intent for the symbol to be used for goodwill and good cheer. His view was to reinforce the power of smiling to encourage someone else to smile and to brighten up their day. After his death, a foundation was created in his memory known as “Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation”. The motto of the Smile Foundation is “enhancing this world, one smile” – :) 1st October – International Day of Older Persons International Day of Older Persons recognises the significance of this social transformation and to address the major implications of population ageing on labour and financial markets, the demand for goods and services (e.g., housing, transportation, social protection) and the value of family structures and inter-generational ties. 2021 marks the first year of the The Decade of Healthy Ageing (20212030) during which governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector are coming together for concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.

1st October – International Music Day Initiated in 1975 by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, International Music Day (IMC) is to encourage the: • promotion of our musical art among all sections of society; • application of the UNESCO ideals of peace and friendship between peoples, of the evolution of their cultures, of the exchange of experience and of the mutual appreciation of their aesthetic values; and • promotion of the activities of IMC, its international member organizations and national committees, as well as its programme policy in general.

2nd October – International Day of NonViolence International Day of Non-Violence marks the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the famous and muchloved leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of nonviolence. The Day is to disseminate the message of non-violence, and to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. In Gandhi’s words: Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. A key tenet of non-violence is to undermine inappropriate power through withdrawal of the consent and cooperation of the populace. Three main non-violent action categories are: • protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils; • non-cooperation; and • non-violent intervention, such as blockades and occupations. 4th October – World Habitat Day In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. On this Day, the Habitat Scroll of Honour award is presented to acknowledge initiatives in shelter provision, highlighting the plight of the homeless, leadership in post conflict reconstruction, and developing and improving human settlements and urban life quality. The theme of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day 2021 will be linked to Climate Change and Climate Action, the focus of the Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor programme.

5th October – World Teachers’ Day Held annually on 5th October since 1994, World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

INTERNATIONAL DAYS

The Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching and research personnel in higher education. With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, and the dedicated target (SDG 4.c) recognizing teachers as key to the achievement of the Education 2030 agenda, this day has become the occasion to mark progress and reflect on ways to counter the remaining challenges for the promotion of the teaching profession. World Teachers’ Day is co-convened in partnership with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization and Education International.

9th October – World Post Day World Post Day marks the 1874 establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. The postal network comprises more than 650,000 offices and 5.3 million staff and public service mandates to deliver services to anyone, anywhere. The Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in the everyday lives of people and businesses, and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. In many countries, philatelic exhibitions are organised, and new stamps, date cancellation marks and special souvenirs, such as T-shirts and badges, are issued. 9th October – World Migratory Bird Day World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was initiated in 2006 as an annual awareness-raising campaign (aimed at people living in all the major flyways) that highlights the ecological importance of migratory birds and calls for their global conservation through international cooperation. It was established by the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (UNEP-AEWA) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). In October 2017, CMS and AEWA announced an innovative partnership that Environment for the Americas (EFTA) joined to combine International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) with WMBD. WMBD is now celebrated twice a year, on the Second Saturday in May and in October. The 2021 theme of World Migratory Bird Day “Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” reflects the invitation to people from all over the world to appreciate migratory birds and reflect on the relationship with nature by listening to and watching birds.

10th October – World Mental Health Day World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This day each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples’ lives worldwide. WHO’s Mental Health Action Plan extended to 2030, has four key objectives:

• more effective leadership and governance for mental health; • the provision of comprehensive, integrated mental health and social care services in community-based settings; • the implementation of strategies for promotion and prevention; and • strengthened information systems, evidence and research.

11th October – International Day of the Girl Child International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl. 11th October 2012, was the first Day of the Girl Child. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage. The celebration of the day also reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research. 13th October – International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Beginning in 1989, The United Nations General Assembly designated 13th October as the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. This day also celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.

15th October – International Day of Rural Women The United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women celebrates and honours women and girls living in rural areas on 15th October each year. First established in 2008, this day recognizes the huge role that rural mothers, daughters and grandmothers play in producing food, and building agricultural and rural development worldwide. Gender inequity plays a special role within agriculture, as women are often pivotal to ensure household food security. Yet they are often not given access to resources or have little decision-making power.

15th October – Global Handwashing Day Global Handwashing Day is to acknowledge the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. It is an opportunity to design, test and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times. Handwashing with soap contributes to better health, nutrition, education and equity. Visit the Global Handwashing Partnership website for good advice and a range of advocacy and learning resources from all over the world.

16th October – World Food Day World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16th October. It is an International Day of Observance that aims to raise awareness of global hunger and the ongoing efforts to eliminate poverty, hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. The observance highlights the need to ensure food security for everyone around the world, especially those in remote communities who are most vulnerable. The first World Food Day was held in 1979 and was established by FAO’s (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) Member Countries at the organisation’s 20th General Conference. 17th October – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17th October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty.

24th October – World Development Information Day World Development Information Day is to propagate information and mobilise the public to cooperate internationally to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals — GlobalGoals: • No poverty • Zero hunger • Good health and well-being • Quality education • Gender equality • Clean water and sanitation • Affordable and clean energy • Decent work and economic growth

• Industry, innovation and infrastructure • Reduced inequalities • Sustainable cities and communities • Responsible consumption and production • Climate action • Life below water • Life on land • Peace, justice and strong institutions • Partnerships for the goals

24th October – United Nations Day United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. Today, the urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater. 24th October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday. 27th October – World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Audiovisual archives represent a priceless heritage that affirms our collective memory and reflects the cultural, social and linguistic diversity of our communities. Conserving this heritage and ensuring that these materials remain accessible to the public, increases our understanding of where we have all come from and what we can do for the future. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is to implement the 2015 Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage, Including in Digital Form and to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image as a representation of our shared heritage and memory. The Day highlights the role of heritage in building the defenses of peace in people’s minds.

31st October – World Cities Day The United Nations General Assembly has designated 31st October as World Cities Day, by its resolution 68/239. The Day is expected to promote greatly the international community’s interest in global urbanization, to push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and to contribute to sustainable urban development around the world.