INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE RIGHT TO THE TRUTH CONCERNING GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND FOR THE DIGNITY OF VICTIMS
Quick Facts
March 24 is the UN’s International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Local names
Name | Language |
---|---|
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | English |
Día Internacional del Derecho a la Verdad en relación con Violaciones Graves de los Derechos Humanos y de la Dignidad de las Víctimas | Spanish |
היום בינלאומית לזכות האמת בנוגע להפרת זכויות אדם חמורה ובשל כבוד קורבנות | Hebrew |
اليوم الدولي للحق في معرفة الحقيقة فيما يتعلق بالانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان ولاحترام كرامة الضحايا | Arabic |
총 인권 침해에 관한 진실에 대한 권리에 대한 피해자의 존엄성에 대한 국제 날 | Korean |
Welttag für das Recht auf Wahrheit bei Verletzungen der Menschenrechte | German |
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
The United Nations (UN) holds a special day to promote a human rights issue on March 24 each year. This day is called the “International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims”.

The UN encourages people to learn about human rights issues, including the right to truth.
©iStockphoto.com/ RichVintage
What do people do
The UN holds various global activities to promote this event. It also encourages governments and people worldwide to observe this international day by:
- Honoring victims of human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice.
- Paying tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.
- Recognizing the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, of El Salvador, who was assassinated on March 24, 1980, after denouncing human rights violations and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposing violence.
Public life
The International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is a UN observance and not a public holiday.
Background
In 2006 the UN confirmed that people had the right to know the truth about gross human rights violations and serious violations of human rights law. Furthermore, this right was linked to governments’ duty and obligation to protect and guarantee human rights, to conduct effective investigations and to guarantee effective remedy and reparations.
In December 2010, in a bid to promote human rights, the UN proclaimed March 24 as the “International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims”. The day remembers human rights victims, including Archbishop Romero, who campaigned for human rights for many years and was shot at a church altar in 1980.
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims Observances
Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thu | Mar 24 | 2011 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Sat | Mar 24 | 2012 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Sun | Mar 24 | 2013 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Mon | Mar 24 | 2014 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Tue | Mar 24 | 2015 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Thu | Mar 24 | 2016 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Fri | Mar 24 | 2017 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Sat | Mar 24 | 2018 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Sun | Mar 24 | 2019 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance | |
Tue | Mar 24 | 2020 | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | United Nations observance |