MAY 01 International Labour Day

International Labour Day is observed to promote and encourage the international labour movements. 1st May was chosen as the day for International Workers' Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago that occurred on May 4, 1886, when the Chicago police fired on workers who were participating in a demonstration connected with a general strike for eight hour work day, killing several demonstrators. The World Trade Union Federation has chosen the theme “The Wealth belongs to those who produce it” for the observance of this year’s International Labour Day.

MAY 03 World Athletics Day

The World Athletics Day offers the opportunity to promote the sport through youth participation in clubs and schools. The goal of the IAAF World Athletics Day is to firmly establish an important link between the youth, our sport, and environmental conservation.

MAY 08 Red Cross Day

World Red Cross Day is an international day dedicated to alleviating human suffering, upholding human dignity, protecting life, and preventing emergencies and natural disasters such as flood, epidemics, and earthquakes. The fundamental principles recognized during World Red Cross Day are impartiality, humanity, independence, neutrality, voluntary, universality, and unity.  This year the Red Cross Society aims to broaden the public’s understanding of the International Red Cross Movement by highlighting the diversity of its work and the universality of its approach. 

MAY 12 International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has chosen the theme “Nurses: A voice to lead - Health for All” for International Nurses Day 2019.

MAY 15 International Family Day

International Day of Families is celebrated to promote awareness of issues related to the family, the basic unit of society and nation. This day was proclaimed in the UN General Assembly in 1993. “Families and Climate Action: Focus on Sustainable Development Goals” is the theme adopted by the United Nations for this year’s International Family Day.

MAY 17 InternationalTelecommunications Day

The International Telecommunications day is observed to raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies. It was on 17th May, 1865 that the first International Telegraph Convention was held.

MAY 22 International Day for Biological Diversity

The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed universally to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues and to emphasize the importance of diversity on earth. The theme for this year is “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health” which aims to leverage knowledge and spread awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition and health on biodiversity and healthy eco-systems.

MAY 31 Anti-tobacco Day

Anti-tobacco Day is observed every year to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe. The day is further intended to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects. The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on "tobacco and lung health." The campaign will increase awareness on the negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, and the fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people. The campaign also serves as a call to action, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors in the fight for tobacco control.