World Refugee Day is an international day organised every year on 20 June by the United Nations. It is designed to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world. The day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
The United Nations General Assembly had decided on the date - June 20 to observe World Refugee Day, while adopting Resolution 55/76, on December 4, 2000. For the first time in history, on June 20, 2001, World Refugee Day was celebrated. In 2001, the event marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention which talks about the protection of refugees.
The theme for World Refugee Day 2022 was 'Whoever, Whatever, Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety.'
Jun 19, 2022
National Reading Day
June 19 is celebrated as National Reading Day in India to honour the Keralite teacher, P.N. Panicker. This celebration of reading did not begin until 1996. However, it has grown into a large-scale movement over the years.
Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker is known as the father of the library movement in Kerala. He died on 19th June 1995, after which in 1996, National Reading Day was celebrated as a tribute to the legend. The Ministry of Education of Kerala also observes Vayana Varam (reading week) for the week between the 19th to 25th of June.
World Sickle Cell Awareness Day
World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed every year on June 19 to increase awareness and understanding of the disease and the challenges faced by its patients and their families. Sickle cell disease causes patients to have sickle-shaped red blood cells that can stick together and block blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body. It is an inherited blood disorder.
Jun 18, 2022
Autistic Pride Day
Autistic Pride Day is observed every year on 18 June. The day is dedicated to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for them to be autistic and proud and celebrate who they are. Let us read in detail about autism.
In 2005, the day was celebrated first time by the organisation Aspies for Freedom (AFF) so that people suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could have one day where they could celebrate their neurodiversity and differences. One of the amazing qualities about this event is that it is not run by charities but by individuals with ASD.
Jun 17, 2022
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance celebrated each year on 17 June. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the presence of desertification and drought, highlighting methods of preventing desertification and recovering from drought. Each year's global celebration has a unique, novel emphasis that had not been developed previously.
This day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/49/115 on January 30, 1995, after the day when United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is drafted.
The theme of 2022 Desertification and Drought Day was "Rising up from drought together".
Jun 16, 2022
International Day of Family Remittances
The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and is observed on 16th June. The IDFR recognises more than 200 million migrant workers, women and men, who send money home to over 800 million family members. This day further highlights the great resilience of migrant workers in the face of economic insecurities, natural and climate related disasters and a global pandemic.
The United Nations in 2022 continued the 2021 theme for International Day of Family Remittances: 'Recovery and resilience through digital and financial inclusion'.
IDFR is a universally-recognised observance adopted by United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA). The custodian of IDFR towards these objectives is the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD is a specialized United Nations (UN) agency that was one of the major outcomes of the World Food Conference 1974. Later in 1977, it was set up as an international financial institution.