UNITED  NATIONS OBSERVANCES

International years   

2013

International Year of Water Cooperation             

2012

International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

2011

International Year for People of African Descent              

International Year of Chemistry                

International Year of Forests     

International Year of Youth   (12 August 2010 - 11 August 2011)  

2010

International Year of Youth   (12 August 2010 - 11 August 2011)  

International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures  

International Year of Biodiversity             

2009

International Year of Reconciliation        

International Year of Natural Fibres        

International Year of Human Rights Learning

(Beginning on 10 December 2008)           

International Year of Astronomy              

2008

International Year of Planet Earth            

International Year of Languages               

International Year of Sanitation                

Year of the Gorilla (UNEP and UNESCO)                  

International Year of the Potato               

2007

2007-2008 International Polar Years (WMO)        

2006

International Year of Deserts and Desertification             

2005

International Year of Microcredit             

International Year for Sport and Physical Education         

International Year of Physics      

2004

International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition           International Year of Rice            

2003

Year of Kyrgyz Statehood            

International Year of Freshwater             

2002

United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage            

International Year of Mountains              

International Year of Ecotourism              

2001

United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations       

International Year of Volunteers              

International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial

Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance      

2000

International Year of Thanksgiving          

International Year for the Culture of Peace         

1999

International Year of Older Persons        

1998

International Year of the Ocean               

1996

International Year for the Eradication of Poverty              

1995

United Nations Year for Tolerance          

World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War            

1994

International Year of the Family               

International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal            

1993

International Year for the World's Indigenous People    

1992

International Space Year              

1990

International Literacy Year          

1987

International Year of Shelter for the Homeless  

1986

International Year of Peace        

1985

Year of the United Nations         

International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace     

1983

World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures  

1982

International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa       

1981

International Year for Disabled Persons                

1979

International Year of the Child  

1978/79

International Anti-Apartheid Year           

1975

International Women's Year      

1974

World Population Year  

1971

International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice       

1970

International Education Year      

1968

International Year for Human Rights       

1967

International Tourist Year            

1965

International Co-operation Year               

1961

International Health and Medical Research Year               

1959/60

World Refugee Year