Human Rights Day (10 December) All states and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10 December as Human Rights Day (Resolution 423 (V)). The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly ‘s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26 June) The General Assembly in 1997, on the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council (Decision 1997/2551), proclaimed 26 June United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Resolution 52/149 of 12 December). The Day aims at the eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force on 26 June 1987.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (2 December) International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of Others (Resolution 317(IV) OF 2 December 1949).

International Day for Tolerance (16 November) In 1996, the General Assembly invited Member states to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November, with activities directed toward both educational establishments and the wider public (Resolution 55/95 of 12 December). This action came in the wake of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the Assembly in 1993 (Resolution 48/120). The year had been declared on the initiative of the General Conference of UNESCO; on 16 November 1995, the UNESCO member states adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan for the Year.

International Migrants Day (18 December) As recommended by the Economic and Social Council (Decision 2000/288 of 28 July 2000), the General Assembly has proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day (Resolution 55/93 of 4 December 2000). On that Day, the International convention on the protection of the Rights of All migrant workers and members of their families was adopted in 1990 (Resolution 45/158). The Assembly has stressed the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants. It is estimated that some 130 million people live outside their countries of origin.

United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly urged governments to contribute further to implementing the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Right s Education, by encouraging supporting and involving NGOs and community–based organizations in implementing national plans of actions (Resolution 55-94). The General Assembly proclaimed the Decade in 1994, to begin on 1 January 1995, and welcomed the plan of Action for the Decade submitted by the Secretary–General (Resolution 49/184). The Assembly stated that human rights education should be a lifelong process by which people learn respect for the dignity of others. Governments were called upon to direct education towards the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The coordinator for the implementation of the Plan of Action is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

World Refugee Day (20 June) On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly noted that 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June. It, therefore, decided that as from 2001, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day (Resolution 55/76).