List of United Nations International Years

In General Knowledge
November 27, 2017

United Nations International Years

You can download the PDF of List of United Nations International Years at the bottom of this post.

What is United Nations?

The United Nations (UN) is the most powerful intergovernmental organization, which is aimed at promoting international cooperation and to create and maintain international order. The Headquarters of United Nations is at New York. The UN has 193 Member states. The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. António Guterres is the current Secretary‑General of UN.

The UN system is based on five principal organs

The General Assembly
The Security Council
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
The Secretariat
The International Court of Justice

What is United Nations International Years?

The United Nations has been observing designated years, decades, weeks, and days with a specific theme. The main reason behind this is to promote awareness Internationally and also to take actions on very serious issues. The United Nations International Years are being observed since 1959. The focus of observing International Years to draw attention to major issues and also to encourage action at international level.

United Nations International Years is one of the major topics in General Knowledge Section.

Complete List of United Nations International Years

S. No	YEAR	UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL YEARS
1	2019	International Year of Indigenous Languages
2	2017	International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
3	2016	International Year of Pulses
4	2015	International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies International Year of Soils
5	2014	International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People International Year of Small Island Developing States International Year of Crystallography International Year of Family Farming
6	2013	International Year of Water Cooperation International Year of Quinoa
7	2012	International Year of Cooperatives International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
8	2011	International Year for People of African Descent International Year of Chemistry International Year of Forests International Year of Youth
9	2010	International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 — 11 August 2011) International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures International Year of Biodiversity International Year of the Seafarer
10	2009	International Year of Planet Earth International Year of Languages International Year of Sanitation International Year of the Potato
11	2007 – 2008	International Polar Year
12	2006	International Year of Deserts and Desertification
13	2005	International Year of Microcredit International Year for Sport and Physical Education International Year of Physics
14	2004	International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition International Year of Rice
15	2003	Year of Kyrgyz Statehood International Year of Freshwater
16	2002	United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage International Year of Mountains International Year of Ecotourism
17	2001	United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations International Year of Volunteers International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
18	2000	International Year of Thanksgiving International Year for the Culture of Peace
19	1999	International Year of Older Persons
20	1998	International Year of the Ocean
21	1996	International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
22	1995	United Nations Year for Tolerance World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War
23	1994	International Year of the Family International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
24	1993	International Year for the World’s Indigenous People
25	1992	International Space Year
26	1990	International Literacy Year
27	1987	International Year of Shelter for The Homeless
28	1986	International Year of Peace
29	1985	Year of the United Nations International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace
30	1983	World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures
31	1982	International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa
32	1981	International Year for Disabled Persons
33	1979	International Year of The Child
34	1978/79	International Anti-Apartheid Year
35	1975	International Women’s Year
36	1974	World Population Year
37	1971	International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice
38	1970	International Education Year
39	1968	International Year for Human Rights
40	1967	International Tourist Year
41	1965	International Co-operation Year
42	1961	International Health and Medical Research Year
43	1959/1960	World Refugee Year