The following tips and suggestions are good examples of possible commemorative days and events that could be a useful opportunity for organising awareness campaigns and debates.
They could also be useful for helping stimulate learning within your organisation, with signatory organisations or with the surrounding community.
These moments can have a motivating effect for starting processes of change and bringing people closer and forging closer connections. These are not events that have an impact in themselves, but rather they should be part of broader strategies associated with the implementation of more lasting measures. It might be worth considering organising a suggestion box for each month.
January Tips
- Organise a volunteering campaign with a local school, to involve children or young people. Make the most of one of the films suggested in Appendix “Legislation, bibliography and resources”.
- Arrange a Braille workshop for people who work in the organisation and use this opportunity to produce Braille versions of important documents and signs in the organisations (names on doors, handrails, along walls) 4 – World Braille Day
- 21 – World Religion Day
- 23 – World Freedom Day
- 28 – Data Privacy Day
- 30 – School Day of Non-violence and Peace
February Tips
- Organise a cinema afternoon (with popcorn included) with a film that deals with human rights and promotes debate on social justice in the organisation
- Find out the mother language of the people in the organisation and make posters with greetings and/or directions in these languages around the organisation.
- 6 – International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
- 11 – World Day of the Sick
- 20 – World Day of Social Justice
- 21 – International Mother Language Day
- 22 – European Day for Victims of Crime
March Tips
- Organise a debate on the rights of women and the roles attributed to women, gender pay gap, pension gaps, could be a virtual one with guests that suggest how we break the stereotypes who come and talk about their experiences.
- Organise a cinema afternoon (with popcorn included) with a film that deals with human rights and promotes debate on terrorism in the organisation (film suggestions: 9/11 or Syriana).
- Mark the day with an agreement with a new social organisation operating in the areas you would like to work on.
- 8 – International Women’s Day
- 11 – European Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism
- 16 – Freedom of Information Day
- 19 – Father's Day
- 20 – International Day of Happiness
- 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- 21 – World Down Syndrome Day
- 24 – National Students' Day
April Tips
- Make time for some fun activities between colleagues (blowing bubbles, watching comedies, telling jokes, hide and seek, playing with children...) to have some fun.
- Invite Romani people to spend a day in the organisation for an information session.
- Organise a day devoted to sound and voice with theatre, singing and voice projection classes, or invite associations and organisations of the Deaf Community to come for a discussion on the issues they encounter.
- 1 – International Fun at Work Day
- 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
- 7 – World Health Day
- 8 – International Romani Day
- 11 – World Parkinson's Day
- 16 – World Voice Day
- 23 – National Education of the Deaf Day
- 28 – National Day for Safety and Health at Work
May Tips
- Organise a debate around freedom of the press in your country, where are people getting their information now, how would you like the topic of d&i to be dealt with or the issue of discrimination?
- Organise the participation of an LGBTI advocacy group for the Pride march (held in June), as well as the registration of people who want to support the cause as “Allies”.
- Invite African authors and artists for a reading session /exhibition and debate on the different cultures in Africa.
- 1 – Labour Day
- 3 – World Press Freedom Day
- 9 – Europe Day
- 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- 19 – National Obesity Day
- 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- 25 – Africa Day
- 28 – International Day of Action for Women's Health
June Tips
- Search for documentaries and films about child labour today to facilitate a discussion of the issues.
- Organise a volunteering activity and a talk with people from the organisation and senior citizens from the surrounding community and/or ex-employees: what advice do they have for younger people? what activities would they like to hold where the organisation could give its support (providing resources, for example)?
- Organise a discussion about the facts on the refugee situation, invite refugee advocacy organisations, brainstorm ideas on how the organisation can promote labour market inclusion for refugees, migrants and other groups.
- 1 – International Children's Day
- 2 – International Sex Workers Day
- 10 – Portugal Day and Portuguese Communities Day
- 12 – World Day Against Child Labour
- 13 – International Albinism Awareness Day
- 15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
- 16 – International Day of the African Child
- 18 – Autistic Pride Day
- 20 – World Refugee Day
- 20 - World Productivity Day
- 24 – National Romain Day
- 27 - Industrial Workers of The World Day
July Tips
- Ask people to share positive stories about grandparents (their own or someone else's) and post them online.
- Organise an initiative aimed at young people, with visits to youth organisations and talks about the work they do there.
- Organise a public discussion about people trafficking and what we can do and say about it.
- 11- World Population Day
- 14 - World Freedom of Thought Day
- 15 - World Youth Skills Day
- 17 - World Day for International Justice
- 18 - Nelson Mandela International Day
- 23 - Tailors and Dressmakers Day
- 26 - Grandparents' Day
- 30 - World Day against Trafficking in Persons
August Tips
- Organise discussions covering the topics below, racism, slavery, the right of indigenous peoples in the organisation before they go on holidays. And why not share the reflections of those who have already read them online, creating a map of the journey of each book?
- 6 - Hiroshima Day
- 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
- 12 - International Youth Day
- 13 - International Lefthanders Day
- 19 - World Humanitarian Day
- 23 - European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism
- 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
- 26 - Women's Equality Day
September Tips
- Share facts about the levels of literacy in your country around the organisation and end with a debate: what can our organisation do to make the situation better?
- Set a challenge: each person should thank at least two people in the organisation for something specific that has helped them to grow (this can be by email, public or private).
- Find out more about restless legs and see if anybody in the organisation suffers from this condition (for example, asking one or two questions via the intranet): what can the organisation do?
- 8 - International Literacy Day
- 9 - Pregnant Women's Day
- 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
- 12 - United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
- 15- International Day of Democracy
- 21 - International Day of Peace, World Alzheimer's Day & World Gratitude Day
- 23 - Restless Legs Awareness Day
- 26 - European Day of Languages, World Contraception Day
- 28 - World Rabies Day, International Day for Universal Access to Information
- 30 - International Translation Day
October Tips
- Organise a vegetarian day in the organisation, either with support from the co-worker restaurant or canteen (if any) or by challenging everybody to bring in vegetarian dishes for a shared lunch. How many vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions are there in the organisation? Are there daily options for these people?
- Approach an organisation that works on mental health issues to organise prevention and awareness campaigns.
- Find out when the municipal equality day in your municipality is and take part in at least one activity!
- 1 - International Day of Older Persons, World Vegetarian Day
- 5 - World Teachers' Day
- 10 - World Mental Health Day
- 10 - World Day Against the Death Penalty
- 11 - International Day of the Girl Child and World Obesity Day
- 12 - World Arthritis Day
- 14 - Be Bald and Free Day
- 16 - World Food Day
- 17- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- 20 - World Cerebral Palsy Day, World Day of Bullying Prevention
- 22 - International Stuttering Awareness Day
- 24 - United Nations Day, World Development Information Day, Municipal Equality Day
- 27 - Journalists for Peace Day and World Occupational Therapy Day
- 28 - International Day of the Elderly and International Animation Day
November Tips
- Explore sources of information about how to assess pay in organisations, is there equal pay between different groups? No? Set a challenge asking for proposals to improve this level to raise awareness among senior management.
- Invite organisations Against Fascism and Antisemitism to explain the current situation.
- Organise a day of discussion about what is tolerance, how do we demonstrate tolerance?
- 1 - World Vegan Day
- 2 - European Equal Pay Day, International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
- 7 - International Lazy Day
- 9 - International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism
- 13 - World Kindness Day
- 16 - International Day for Tolerance
- 17 - World No Smoking Day, World Creativity Day & International Students' Day
- 19 - International Men's Day
- 20 - National Pyjama Day, Universal Children’s Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and Africa Industrialisation Day
- 21 - World Television Day
- 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and National Entrepreneur's Day
- 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
December Tips
- Find out about local activities taking place for disability day!
- Organise a debate on volunteering: what can be done that will cause a real impact on the community? Ask people for ideas!
- Contact national Human Rights organisations, find out about local activities taking place for Human Rights Day, participate, get signatories to participate.
- 1 - World AIDS Day
- 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
- 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities and International Day of Chronic Allergies Sufferers
- 4 - National Multiple Sclerosis Day
- 5 - International Volunteer Day
- 9 - International Anti-Corruption Day, International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Genocide and National Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 10 - World Human Rights Day
- 11 - UNICEF Day
- 17 - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
- 18 - International Migrants Day and International Human Solidarity Day
