International Day of Cooperatives
2022-07-02 00:00 - 23:59 (Australia/Sydney)
The United Nations International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July. This year, the theme of the International Day of Cooperatives 2020 is Cooperatives for Climate Action. Since 1995, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the United Nations have been setting the theme for the celebration of the International Day through Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC).

Find out more here.

World Population Day
2022-07-11 00:00 - 23:59
World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues.

World Youth Skills Day
2022-07-15 00:00 - 23:59
This day highlights the importance of youth skills because rising youth unemployment is seen as one of the most significant problems facing economies and societies in the world today, both for developed and developing countries. Find out more here.

Nelson Mandela International Day
2022-07-18 00:00 - 23:59
“It is easy to break down and destroy.The heroes are those who make peace and build.” Nelson Mandela

South African leader Nelson Mandela was born on this day in 1918. A timeline of his life, and links to the texts of some of his major speeches can be accessed here.

For Reflection

What can we learn from the life and work of Nelson Mandela that will help us to promote justice and reconciliation in Australia today?

International Day of Friendship
2022-07-30 00:00 - 23:59
“Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.” United Nations

Find out more about this day here.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons
2022-07-30 00:00 - 23:59
“On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us reaffirm our commitment to stop criminals from ruthlessly exploiting people for profit and to help victims rebuild their lives.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Catholic Social Justice Series paper no 79 Human Trafficking and Slavery, A Response from Australian Catholics comes out of the work of ACRATH, the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans. It reminds us that human trafficking and similar forms of exploitation affect every country on earth. They flourish because of society’s greed for cheap goods and services, and because it is so easy to forget that those who meet these needs are human beings with their own innate God-given dignity. Deliverance from slavery is one of the great themes that run through Scriptures.

2010: Entry into force of UN Convention on Cluster Munitions
2022-08-01 00:00 - 23:59
The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Cluster Munitions. The CCM was adopted in Dublin on 30 May 2008. It has 108 signatories. The Convention became binding international law when it entered into force on 1 August 2010 after 30 States – including the Vatican City State – had ratified it. As of September 2011, 60 States have ratified the CCM and future States Parties will accede to the Convention by submitting their ratifications to the United Nations.

Why does the Church Opposes Cluster Munitions?

The use of force must be a last resort, and it can only be considered for the defense of innocent lives. Even if these conditions are met, the use of force must discriminate or distinguish between combatants and civilians, and the suffering caused must not be greater than the good to be achieved. Cluster munitions are not able to meet these tests. Sandie Cornish, Why Cluster Bombs Should be Banned, Social Spirituality

Find out more on Church teaching and cluster bombs here.

Take Action

Find out about the Cluster Munition Coalition and how you can support its work. You will find plenty of resources for action here.

1945: Destruction of Hiroshima by atomic bomb
2022-08-06 00:00 - 23:59
“With deep conviction I wish once more to declare that the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is today, more than ever, a crime not only against the dignity of human beings but against any possible future for our common home. The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral, as I already said two years ago. We will be judged on this. Future generations will rise to condemn our failure if we spoke of peace but did not act to bring it about among the peoples of the earth. How can we speak of peace even as we build terrifying new weapons of war? How can we speak about peace even as we justify illegitimate actions by speeches filled with discrimination and hate?” Pope Francis, Address at the Peace Memorial, Hiroshima, 24 November 2019.

The hibakusha, as the survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known, are becoming fewer. You can read the story of Junko, who now lives in Sydney, here.

Pope John Paul II was the first Pope to visit Hiroshima. You can read his address from 1981 here. It was in response to this address that the Catholic Bishops of Japan established the 10 Days for Peace which run from 6 to 15 August. This is a good time to pray for peace and nuclear disarmament.

You can find more information about the atomic bombs here.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
2022-08-09 00:00 - 23:59
Do you know who the name of the Indigenous people of the place where you live? Check the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies map of Australia here.

Find out more about why the United Nations decided in 1994 to celebrate a World Day of Indigenous Peoples on 9 August here.

1945: Destruction of Nagasaki by atomic bomb
2022-08-09 00:00 - 23:59
“Countless people at home and abroad, including the hibakusha, hope that Japan, the only country to experience atomic warfare, will lead the international community in abolishing nuclear weapons. In response to that hope, we urge you to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” Mitsuaki Takami, Archbishop of Nagasaki, President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, in a Letter to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 12 December 2019.

International Youth Day
2022-08-12 00:00 - 23:59
12 August was first designated International Youth Day by the UN General Assembly in 1999, and serves as an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, and an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth. More information here.

2020 Theme: To be confirmed.

World Humanitarian Day
2022-08-19 00:00 - 23:59
World Humanitarian Day is a time to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. Find out more here.

International Day Against Nuclear Tests
2022-08-29 00:00 - 23:59
Did you know that the Vatican ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on the very first day that it was opened for signature and ratification? The Holy See’s diplomats continue to urge more states to ratify the treaty so that it will enter into force.

Find out about the International Day Against Nuclear Tests

International Day of the Victims of Forced Disappearances
2022-08-30 00:00 - 23:59
Enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within the society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared, but also affects their communities and society as a whole. Special attention must also be paid to specific groups of especially vulnerable people, like children and people with disabilities. Find out more here.

Beginning of National Biodiversity Month
2022-09-01 00:00 - 23:59
Biodiversity Month is held in September each year and aims to promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity both within Australia and across the world.

Find out more about the Australian Government’s efforts to protect biodiversity here.

2013: Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers
2022-09-05 00:00 - 23:59
“On September 5, 2013, the ILO Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers (Domestic Workers Convention or C189) entered into legal force. This groundbreaking new treaty and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 201) establish the first global standards for the more than 50 million domestic workers worldwide—the majority of whom are women and girls, and many of whom are migrants—who clean, cook, and care for children and elderly in private households. The Domestic Workers Convention provides desperately needed and long overdue protections for domestic workers and represents a significant breakthrough in human rights, including labor rights, women’s rights, and children’s rights. Under the new convention, domestic workers are entitled to the same basic rights as those available to other workers, including weekly days off, limits to hours of work, minimum wage coverage, overtime compensation, social security, and clear information on the terms and conditions of employment. The new standards oblige governments that ratify the convention to protect domestic workers from violence and abuse, to regulate private employment agencies that recruit and employ domestic workers, and to prevent child labor in domestic work.” Human Rights Watch, Claiming Rights: Domestic Workers’ Movements and Global Advances for Labor Reform

Find out more about the Domestic Workers’ Convention (ILO Convention C189) here.

International Day of Charity
2022-09-05 00:00 - 23:59
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘charity’? For Christians it is something more than philanthropy or giving to worthy causes. Nor is it an alternative to justice for those made poor or pushed to the margins. It is about the fullness of love, of which justice is the bare minimum.

“Love – caritas – will always prove necessary, even in the most just society. There is no ordering of the State so just that it can eliminate the need for a service of love… There will always be suffering which cries out for consolation and help. There will always be loneliness. There will always be situations of material need where help in the form of concrete love of neighbour is indispensable.” Benedict XVI, Caritas Deus Est, n 30.

Find out more about the United Nations’ observance of the International Day of Charity here.

International Literacy Day
2022-09-08 00:00 - 23:59
“International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on 8 September, is an opportunity for Governments, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates, and reflect on the world’s remaining literacy challenges. Sustainable Development Goal 4 has as one of its targets ensuring all young people achieve literacy and numeracy and that adults who lack these skills are given the opportunity to acquire them.” United Nations

World Suicide Prevention Day
2022-09-10 00:00 - 23:59
Organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, World Suicide Prevention Day provides the opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.

World Suicide Prevention Day #WSPD2020

Action

Today is a good day to find out about suicide prevention services in your local area. Does your household, parish, school or organisation know how to help people experiencing thoughts of suicide to access support?

2007: Adoption by the UN of Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
2022-09-13 00:00 - 23:59
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against and 11 abstentions. Today the Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.

United Nations

International Day of Democracy
2022-09-15 00:00 - 23:59
“As we mark Democracy Day, I urge all governments to respect the right to active, substantive and meaningful participation; and I salute all of you who strive tirelessly to make this happen.” — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

United Nations

International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer
2022-09-16 00:00 - 23:59
“As we rightly focus our energies on tackling climate change, we must be careful not to neglect the ozone layer and stay alert to the threat posed by the illegal use of ozone-depleting gases.” — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

Concern about the hole in the ozone layer was in many ways a precursor to contemporary concern about climate change. The ozone layer is a shield of gas that protects the earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun. While it is less common now to hear about the ozone layer, as the United Nations explain “the phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth.” Find out more about protecting the ozone layer here.

1961: Death of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld
2022-09-18 00:00 - 23:59
“Mr. Hammarskjold, whose name is on buildings in and around the United Nations headquarters in New York, was an iconic Swedish diplomat, the organization’s second secretary general and a strong advocate for decolonization in Africa. He is the only person to have been posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and was described by President John F. Kennedy as ‘the greatest statesman of our century’.” United Nations Archives

International Day of Peace
2022-09-21 00:00 - 23:59
“In sending his disciples forth on mission, Jesus told them: ‘Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this house!” And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.” (Lk 10:5-6). Bringing peace is central to the mission of Christ’s disciples. That peace is offered to all those men and women who long for peace amid the tragedies and violence that mark human history. The ‘house’ of which Jesus speaks is every family, community, country and continent, in all their diversity and history. It is first and foremost each individual person, without distinction or discrimination. But it is also our ‘common home’: the world in which God has placed us and which we are called to care for and cultivate.” Pope Francis, World Day of Peace Message 2020.

For the International Day of Peace in 2020 the United Nations have chosen the theme “Shaping Peace Together” noting that:

“This year, it has been clearer than ever that we are not each other’s enemies. Rather, our common enemy is a tireless virus that threatens our health, security and very way of life. COVID-19 has thrown our world into turmoil and forcibly reminded us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere.”

We are invited to celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. We can stand together against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred and instead shape peace together.

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
2022-09-26 00:00 - 23:59
“In each of our faith communities, we believe we are called to pursue peace and to love and care for all humanity and all creation. Collectively, our faith leads us to reject weapons designed to cause mass death and destruction and instill terror and fear. It is this faith that compels us to act for the eradication of weapons of mass destruction.” Australian Faith Leaders’ Letter to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, August 2020.

The elimination of nuclear weapons is one of the oldest goals of the United Nations, yet the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has not yet been ratified by enough countries to enter into force. The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons helps to keep a focus on this goal.

Australia has not ratified the treaty while the Holy See was one of the first nation states to sign and ratify the treaty. You can find the list of ratifications here.

Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, has signed an open letter by faith leaders in Australia urging the Australian Government to sign and ratify the treaty.

Action

Read the full letter from Australian faith leaders here.Distribute this prayer for nuclear disarmament in your parish, school, organisation and use it in your private prayer. Printed copies can be ordered here.Write to your local Member of Parliament asking them to support the signing and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

World Maritime Day
2022-09-29 00:00 - 23:59
When you think of shipping, do oil spills and cargo being washed up on beaches come to mind – or do you think of the sustainable movement of goods around the world? The theme for World Maritime Day this year is Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet.

International Podcast Day
2022-09-30 00:00 - 23:59
International Podcast Day™ is an initiative of a group of podcasters. They explain the origin of the day in this way:

“In the summer of 2013, Steve Lee heard a radio announcement for National Senior Citizens’ Day. thinking that was pretty cool, it begged the question of why there wasn’t a day for the celebration of podcasting. That’s when Steve said to himself, ‘Let’s create a Podcast Day!’ So the adventure began and a collective team of podcasters put their heads together to establish means for podcasters and podcast listeners to raise awareness for this great entertainment and education medium…

Between 2015-2018, we successfully live streamed hundreds of hours, bringing in podcasters from nearly 65 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Poland, Germany, South Africa, Jamaica, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Philippines, India, France, Switzerland, Scotland, UK, Finland, Canada and the Unites States and more.”

Ideas for Celebrating International Podcast Day

Not sure what a podcast is? Find out more here.Sign up to follow the Office for Social Justice’s podcast The Revolution of Tenderness.Access Vatican Radio’s English language podcasts here, or check out their podcasts in other languages.Check out Wollongong Diocese’s Journey: Catholic Radio on demand as a podcast.Listen to Catholic Youth Parramatta’s podcast for young women, called At the Well.

1975: Ratification by Australia of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
2022-09-30 00:00 - 23:59
“The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1966 was one of the first human rights treaties to be adopted by the United Nations (UN). The Convention is widely supported, with more than 156 countries (four-fifths of the membership of the UN) having ratified it. Australia ratified the Convention on 30 September 1975.” Australian Human Rights Commission – Guide to the Law

International Day for Older Persons
2022-10-01 00:00 - 23:59
“The year 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons. This year has also seen an emergence of COVID-19, that has caused an upheaval across the world. Considering the higher risks confronted by older persons during the outbreak of pandemics such as COVID-19, policy and programmatic interventions must be targeted towards raising awareness of their special needs. Recognizing older persons contributions to their own health and the multiple roles they play in the preparedness and response phases of current and future pandemics is also important.” The theme of the 2020 commemoration is “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?”

Action:

Revisit the 2016-17 Social Justice Statement, A Place at the Table: Social Justice in an Aging Society.

International Day of Non-Violence
2022-10-02 00:00 - 23:59
“Just peace is the goal, nonviolence is the way. A sustainable culture of peace can only be established by nonviolence that absolutely respects human dignity. Rooted in the interconnectedness of God’s creation, it also opens the way to an ‘integral ecology’ , as expressed by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’. Violence undermines this interconnectedness. Nonviolence sustains it. Nonviolence teaches us to say ‘no’ to an inhuman social order and ‘yes’ to the fullness of life… In every age, the Holy Spirit graces the Church with the wisdom to respond to the challenges of its time. In response to what is a global epidemic of violence, we are being called again and again to invoke, pray over, teach, and take decisive action in the spirit of Jesus’ nonviolence. Nonviolence is at the heart of the Gospel. It is the calling of the Church. It is not passive or naïve. It is a way of faith and action. It is an effective alternative. It is a constructive force to protect all people and our common home. It includes a broad spectrum of approaches and activities. It is the core of a new moral framework. It is essential to integral human development and at the heart of a culture of peace. It is at the core of the witness and action of Jesus and man who have come after him, including Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Dorothy Day, Beatus Franz Jagerstatter, Saint OScar Romero, Berta Caceres, Lanza del Vasto, Wangari Muta Maathai, and the many people involved in nonviolent social movements.” Reflections from the Pax Christi International/Catholic Nonviolence Initiative workshop on Path of Nonviolence: Towards a Culture of Pace, 4-5 April 2019, Rome.
