WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOR DIALOGUE AND DEVELOPMENT
Quick Facts
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, held on May 21, is an occasion for people to deepen their understanding of cultural diversity.
Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | English |
| Día Mundial de la Diversidad Cultural para el Diálogo y el Desarrollo | Spanish |
| עולם יום לגיוון תרבותי לדיאלוג ופיתוח | Hebrew |
| اليوم العالمي للتنوع الثقافي من أجل الحوار والتنمية | Arabic |
| 대화와 발전을위한 문화 다양성을위한 세계의 날 | Korean |
| Welttag der kulturellen Vielfalt für Dialog und Entwicklung | German |
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is annually held on May 21 to help people learn about the importance of cultural diversity and harmony.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a chance for people to celebrate cultural diversity and harmony.
©iStockphoto.com/skynesher
What do people do?
Various events are organized to increase the understanding of issues around cultural diversity and development among governments, non-governmental organizations and the public. Many of these include presentations on the progress of implementing the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.
Events include:
- Seminars for professionals.
- Educational programs for children and young adolescents.
- The launch of collaborations between official agencies and ethnic groups.
- Exhibitions to help people understand the history of various cultural groups and the influence on their own identities.
- Celebrations to create greater awareness of cultural values and the need to preserve them.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development tends to be marked in countries that embraced their varied cultural history and acknowledged the importance of embracing it.
Public life
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is an observance and not a public holiday.
Background
The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, France, on November 2, 2001. It was the 249th resolution adopted at the 57th session of the United Nations General Conference. Although the declaration was the culmination of years of work, it was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism.
The year 2002 was the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage. At the end of that year, on December 20, 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The General Assembly emphasized links between the protection of cultural diversity and the importance of dialogue between civilizations in the modern world. The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was first observed in 2003.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | May 21 | 2003 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Fri | May 21 | 2004 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Sat | May 21 | 2005 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Sun | May 21 | 2006 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Mon | May 21 | 2007 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Wed | May 21 | 2008 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Thu | May 21 | 2009 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Fri | May 21 | 2010 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Sat | May 21 | 2011 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Mon | May 21 | 2012 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Tue | May 21 | 2013 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Wed | May 21 | 2014 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Thu | May 21 | 2015 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Sat | May 21 | 2016 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Sun | May 21 | 2017 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Mon | May 21 | 2018 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Tue | May 21 | 2019 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance | |
| Thu | May 21 | 2020 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations observance |