Happy September, everybody!
As always, when September comes, I am half sad for my favorite season to be over, and half excited for all the programmes and events that come with fall.
I thought I’d provide you with a round-up of what to expect this September in terms of world affairs. The post might be updated later as new events come to my knowledge and you are also welcome to suggest new additions!
First off, there are two important international observances, 5 September is the International Day of Charity and 8 September is International Literacy Day.
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.
On 12 September the new, 72nd session of the UN General Assembly will open. The president of the 72nd session will be former Slovakian foreign minister Miroslav Lajčák, and as usual, these few weeks in September will be the busiest all year at the United Nations.
Also 12 September is the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.
15 September is the International Day of Democracy and 16 September is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
17 September is the date of this year’s Social Good Summit in New York, which usually coincides with the UN’s Generaly Assembly week.
The General Debate of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly will open on Tuesday, 19 September and the theme of this year is ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet’. These few days are also known as high level week, for the masses of world leaders and high level delegations that gather in New York. It’s going to be exciting this year for more than one reason!
21 September is the International Day of Peace. It’s the start of the Just Peace Festival in The Hague, the highlight of which is the International Open Day on Sunday 24 September with international courts and organizations residing in The Hague opening their doors to interested members of the public. Unfortunately I cannot attend this year, but from last year’s experience, I can tell it’s a great event!
26 September is the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which seems like a questionable goal given the recent development of events with North Korea.
26 September is also observed as the European Day of Languages.
27 September is World Tourism Day and 28 September is World Rabies Day.
The last Thursday of September which is also 28 September this year is World Maritime Day.
Finally, for the first time since it was designated as such, 30 September is International Translation Day.
