International Years

International Years

 

These are the international years currently observed by the United Nations.
The resolution establishing each international year is listed in parenthesis.

2017

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development  (A/RES/70/193)

2016

International Year of Pulses  (A/RES/68/231)

2015

International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies   (A/RES/68/221)
International Year of Soils   [FAO]  (A/RES/68/232)

2014

International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People   (A/RES/68/12)
International Year of Small Island Developing States   (A/RES/67/206)
International Year of Crystallography   (A/RES/66/284)
International Year of Family Farming   (A/RES/66/222)

2013

International Year of Water Cooperation   (A/RES/65/154)
International Year of Quinoa   (A/RES/66/221)

2012

International Year of Cooperatives   (A/RES/64/136)
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All   (A/RES/65/151)

2011

International Year for People of African Descent   (A/RES/64/169)
International Year of Chemistry   (A/RES/63/209)
International Year of Forests   (A/RES/61/193)
International Year of Youth  (A/RES/64/134)

2010

International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 — 11 August 2011)   (A/RES/64/134)
International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures   (A/RES/62/90)
International Year of Biodiversity   (A/RES/61/203)
International Year of the Seafarer

2009

International Year of Reconciliation   (A/RES/61/17)
International Year of Natural Fibres   (A/RES/61/189)
International Year of Human Rights Learning   (A/RES/62/171)
International Year of Astronomy   (A/RES/62/200)
Year of the Gorilla (UNEP and UNESCO)

2008

International Year of Planet Earth   (A/RES/60/192)
International Year of Languages   (A/RES/61/266)
International Year of Sanitation   (A/RES/61/192)
International Year of the Potato   (A/RES/60/191)

2007-2008

International Polar Year (WMO)  

2006

International Year of Deserts and Desertification   (A/RES/58/211)

2005

International Year of Microcredit   (A/RES/53/197)
International Year for Sport and Physical Education   (A/RES/58/5)
International Year of Physics   (A/RES/58/293)

2004

International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition   (A/RES/57/195)
International Year of Rice   (A/RES/57/162)

2003

Year of Kyrgyz Statehood   (A/RES/57/248)
International Year of Freshwater   (A/RES/55/196)

2002

United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage   (A/RES/56/8)
International Year of Mountains   (A/RES/53/24)
International Year of Ecotourism   (A/RES/53/200)

2001

United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations   (A/RES/53/22)
International Year of Volunteers   (A/RES/52/17)
International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance   (A/RES/53/132)

2000

International Year of Thanksgiving   (A/RES/52/16)
International Year for the Culture of Peace   (A/RES/52/15)

1999

International Year of Older Persons   (A/RES/47/5  A/RES/50/141)

1998

International Year of the Ocean   (A/RES/49/131)

1996

International Year for the Eradication of Poverty   (A/RES/48/183)

1995

United Nations Year for Tolerance   (A/RES/48/126)
World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War   (A/RES/49/25)

1994

International Year of the Family  (A/RES/44/82)
International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal   (A/RES/48/10)

1993

International Year for the World's Indigenous People   (A/RES/45/164 A/RES/47/75)

1992

International Space Year  (A/RES/44/46)

1990

International Literacy Year  (A/RES/42/104)

1987

International Year of Shelter for The Homeless   (A/RES/36/71 A/RES/37/221)

1986

International Year of Peace   (A/RES/37/16 A/RES/40/3)

1985

Year of the United Nations  (A/RES/39/161 A)
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)

1981

International Year for Disabled Persons   (A/RES/31/123)

1979

International Year of The Child   (A/RES/31/169)

1978/79

International Anti-Apartheid Year   (A/RES/32/105 B)

1975

International Women's Year   (A/RES/3010 (XXVII))

1974

World Population Year    (A/RES/2683 (XXV))

1971

International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice   (A/RES/2544 (XXIV))

1970

International Education Year   (A/RES/2306 (XXII) A/RES/2412 (XXIII))

1968

International Year for Human Rights    (A/RES/2081 (XX))

1967

International Tourist Year    (A/RES/2148 (XXI))

1965

International Co-operation Year  (A/RES/1907 (XVIII))

1961

International Health and Medical Research Year   (A/RES/1283 (XIII))

1959/1960

World Refugee Year    (A/RES/1285 (XIII))