Every month has some special dates to mark history, celebrate anniversaries, pay tribute, and so much more. Some days are marked internationally, for example, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates several ‘International Days’ to mark important aspects of human life and history. Each international day offers many actors the opportunity to organise activities related to the theme of the day. Here are some of the internationally celebrated days in September; International Literacy Day (September 8): This is the day when countries worldwide celebrate the value of education. This is done to raise public awareness on the importance of education, reading, and its benefits to society. World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10): Since 2003, there has been an awareness day to provide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with numerous activities worldwide. World Suicide Prevention Day is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). International Day of Democracy (September 15): Every year, the International Day of Democracy is commemorated to promote and support democratic principles. The principles of holding periodic and genuine elections by democratic elections and the values of liberty and respect for human rights are vital parts of democracy. International Day of Peace (September 21): Each year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world. The UN General Assembly declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace through watching 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. According to un.org, the 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world. International Day of Sign Language (September 23): The UN General Assembly proclaimed September 23 as the International Day of Sign Language in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realisation of the human rights of people who are deaf. World Tourism Day (September 27): It is annually celebrated to highlight the importance of tourism, which helps generate employment and build a future for millions of people worldwide. The International Day for Universal Access to Information (September 28): The right to information in times of crisis is the emphasis of the International Day for Universal Access to Information. It also emphasises the benefits of having constitutional, statutory, and policy protections for public access to information to save lives, develop trust, and assist in the creation of long-term policies, especially during and after the COVID-19 crisis. International Translation Day (September 30): This is celebrated to recognise the contributions of language specialists in bringing nations together, stimulating dialogue, understanding, and collaboration, and contributing to global development and peace, and security.
