Linking events
to rights
High profile national events can provide you with new ways to talk about rights with your class.
Linking national and international events to the CRC can enable you to incorporate rights into the classroom while highlighting the real-world relevance of the Convention.
Take a look at our resource section for lesson and assembly ideas that you can tailor for your class.
All the events listed here are subject for change, so be sure to check with the organisers for details.
Event days and weeks in 2021
Big Schools’ Birdwatch
Date: 6 Jan to 21 Feb
What is it: Big Schools’ Birdwatch is an educational activity that gets your class closer to nature. It takes just an hour and works for all ages and abilities.
Rights Link: Article 2: Right to Education
World Religion Day
Date: 17 Jan
What is it: A day to recognise, respect and accept the hundreds of differing faiths across the globe.
Rights Link: Article 2: The right not to be discriminated against; Article 14: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Holocaust Memorial Day
Date: 27 Jan
What is it: Holocaust Memorial Day provides an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides and apply them to the present day to create a safer, better future.
Rights Link: Article 38: War and armed conflicts
LGBT+ History Month
Date: Feb
What is it: The aim of LGBT History month is to promote equality and diversity for the benefit of the public..
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination, Article 13 – freedom of expression
World Cancer Day
Date: 4 Feb
What is it: World Cancer Day was established by the Paris Charter adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer (2000). The Charter promotes research for curing and preventing cancer, upgrading services provided to patients and the mobilisation of the global community against cancer.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
Safer Internet Day
Date: 9 Feb
What is it: Calls upon young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together in helping to create a better internet.
Rights Link: Article 16: Right to privacy; Article 17: Access to information from the media
Childhood Cancer Day
Date: 15 Feb
What is it: A day for activities to mark International Childhood Cancer Day and show support for children and families experiencing this disease.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
World Day of Social Justice
Date: 20 Feb
What is it: Social Justice Day aims to promote poverty eradication and social integration. A theme is set each year.
Rights Link: Article 4: Implementation of the Convention
International Mother Language Day
Date: 21 Feb
What is it: International Mother Language Day celebrates language diversity and variety worldwide. A theme is set each year.
Rights Link: Article 30: Children from minority or indigenous groups
World Book Day
Date: 4 March
What is is: World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.
Rights Link: Article 29: Goals of education
British Science Week
Date: 5-14 March
What is it: A 10-day programme of science, technology, engineering and maths events and activities across the UK for people of all ages.
Rights Link: Article 29: Goals of education
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Date: 21 March
What is it: Derives from 1960 police killing 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in South Africa, against the apartheid ‘pass laws’. International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is now nearing universal ratification.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination
World Water Day
Date: 22 March
What is it: Water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. Day established 1992.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
Earth Hour
Date: 27 March
What is it: WWF event to raise awareness for climate change issues across the globe.
Rights Link: Article 6: Life, survival and development
International Day of Transgender Visibility
Date: 31 March
What is it: A day to celebrate transgender people around the globe and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness around the discrimination trans people still face.
Rights Link: Article 13 – freedom of expression
International Children’s Book Day
Date: 2 April
What is it: International Children’s Book Day has been celebrated all over the world, aiming to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books.
Rights Link: Article 28: Right to education; Article 29: Goals of education
Autism Awareness Day
Date: 2 April
What is it: Day is intended to bring the world’s attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions, by encouraging member states to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination
World Health Day
Date: 7 April
What is it: World Health Day is held to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation in 1948 and is seen as an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia
Date: 17 May
What is it: The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia aims to tackle prejudice and discrimination and promote the rights of lesbian and gay people. Each year the campaign has a different focus.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination
Cultural Diversity Day
Date: 21 May
What is it: The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development aims to encourage people to ‘live together better’.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination Article 30: Children from minority or indigenous groups
Walk to School Week
Date: 17-21 May
What is it: Walk to School Week is part of the Walk to School campaign, which encourages parents and children to leave the car at home and take the chance to get outside and get fit by walking to and from school.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
International Day for Biodiversity
Date: 22 May
What is it: The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) aims to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
Rights Link: Article 6: Life, survival and development
World Environment Day
Date: 5 June
What is it: World Environment Day (WED) is an annual event that aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round but climax on 5th June every year.
Rights Link: Article 6: Life, survival and development
Non-Binary Peoples Day
Date: 14 June
What is it: This day aims to celebrate the wide range of people worldwide who identify as non-binary.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination, Article 13 – freedom of expression
World Day Against Child Labour
Date: 12 June
What is it: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) launched the first World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to highlight the plight of child workers and what can be done to help them.
Rights Link: Article 32: Child labour
World Refugee Day
Date: 20 June
What is it: This event honours the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.
Rights Link: Article 22: Refugee children
World Population Day
Date: 11 July
What is it: This event raises awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989.
Rights Link: Article 15: Freedom of association
International Day of Friendship
Date: 30 July
What is it: International Youth Day (IYD) was established by the United Nations in 2000 as a means of raising awareness of issues affecting young people around the world.
Rights Link: Article 31: Leisure, play and culture
International Youth Day
Date: 12 Aug
What is it: International Youth Day (IYD) was established by the United Nations in 2000 as a means of raising awareness of issues affecting young people around the world.
Rights Link: Article 40: Juvenile justice
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
Date: 22 Aug
What is it: The twenty third of August has been designated a day of remembrance, to remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. It gives people a chance to think about the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of slavery and the slave trade.
Rights Link: Article 35: Abduction, sale and trafficking
World Water Week
Date: 23-27 Aug
What is it: Raise awareness of water shortages and the need for clean water supplies globally.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
World Literacy Day
Date: 8 Sep
What is it: International Literacy Day, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally.
Rights Link: Article 29: Goals of education
International Day of Democracy
Date: 15 Sep
What is it: The International Day of Democracy was established by the UN in 2007 as an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. In particular, the day celebrates the values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding genuine elections by universal suffrage.
Rights Link: Article 12: Respect for the views of the child
World Peace Day
Date: 21 Sep
What is it: The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations in 1981 as a day ‘devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples’.
Rights Link: Article 38: War and armed conflicts
Bi Visibility Day
Date: 23 Sep
What is it: Marked each year since 1999 to highlight biphobia and to help people find the bisexual community..
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination, Article 13 – freedom of expression
International Right to Know Day
Date: 28 Sep
What is it: The aim of Right to Know Day is to raise awareness of every individual’s right of access to government-held information: the right to know how elected officials are exercising power and how tax-payers’ money is being spent.
Rights Link: Article 17: Access to information from the media
World Habitat Day
Date: 4 Oct
What is it: The day is intended as an opportunity to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
Rights Link: Article 27: Adequate standard of living; Article 26: Social security
National Coming Out Day
Date: 11 Oct
What is it: A day to celebrate those who are coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination, Article 13 – freedom of expression
Black History Month
Date: 1 – 31 Oct
What is it: Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.
Rights Link: Article 30: Children from minority or indigenous groups
International Day of Non-Violence
Date: 2 Oct
What is it: Established by the United Nations, the International Day of Non-Violence is held on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. The Day is an occasion to ‘disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness’.
Rights Link: Article 19: Protection from violence, abuse and neglect
World Teachers Day
Date: 5 Oct
What is it: The day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.
Rights Link: Article 29: Goals of education
World Mental Health Day
Date: 10 Oct
What is it: The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is psychological first aid and the support people can provide to those in distress.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services; Article 25: Review of treatment in care
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Date: 13 Oct
What is it: Day aims to to raise awareness about what we can all do to reduce our risk of disasters from earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Rights Link: Article 27: Adequate standard of living
World Food Day
Date: 16 Oct
What is it: World Food Day is a day of action against hunger because when it comes to hunger, the only acceptable number in the world is zero. World Food Day celebrates the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on October 16, 1945 in Quebec, Canada.
Rights Link: Article 6: Life, survival and development; Article 24: Health and health services
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Date: 17 Oct
What is it: This day aims to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries – a need that has become a development priority.
Rights Link: Article 26: Social security
Anti-Slavery Day
Date: 18 Oct
What is it: Modern-day slavery as child trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Rights Link: Article 35: Abduction, sale and trafficking
United Nations Day
Date: 24 Oct
What is it: United Nations Day is devoted to highlighting the aims and achievements of the United Nations.
Rights Link: Article 4: Implementation of the Convention
Armistice Day
Date: 11 Nov
What is it: Day commemorates the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany at 11 am on 11 November 1918 – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Rights Link: Article 38: War and armed conflicts
Transgender Awareness Week
Date: 13 – 20 Nov
What is it: Transgender Awareness Week helps raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues the community faces.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination, Article 13 – freedom of expression
Anti-Bullying Week
Date: 12 – 16 Nov
What is it: Anti-Bullying Week is an annual UK event in the third week in November which aims to raise awareness of bullying of children and young people, in schools and elsewhere, and to highlight ways of preventing and responding to it.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination
Scottish Inter-Faith week
Date: 11 – 18 Nov
What is it: Scottish Interfaith Week is supported by local interfaith groups, the Scottish Government and Scotland’s religious leaders. The week provides a chance for individuals, local interfaith groups, faith communities and educational establishments across the country to plan events that bring people together to promote dialogue, understanding and co-operation between Scotland’s diverse religious communities.
Rights Link: Article 14: Freedom of thought, belief and religion
Tolerance Day
Date: 16 Nov
What is it: This day focuses on educating people about the need for tolerance in society and helping them understand the negative effects of intolerance.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination
Children in Need
Date: 13 Nov
What is it: The BBC’s Children in Need appeal is held each year on a Friday in November. The focus of the appeal is the Children in Need telethon, a whole evening of entertainment featuring various celebrities, but many other events and fundraising activities take place around the country.
Rights Link: Article 24: Health and health services
Toilet Day
Date: 19 Nov
What is it: This is the day to raise awareness about all the people who do not have access to a toilet, and the urgent need to end the sanitation crisis.
Rights Link: Article 6: Life, survival and development; Article 24: Health and health services
Universal Children’s Day
Date: 20 Nov
What is it: Universal Children’s Day was established by the United Nations in 1954 to encourage understanding between children and promote children’s welfare around the world. It is held on 20 November, the same day the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
Rights Link: Whole convention
World Aids Day
Date: 1 Dec
What is it: World Aids Day was the first ever global health day and has continued to be marked since 1988. It is your opportunity to join people worldwide in the fight against HIV, showing support for people living with HIV and commemorating people who have died.
Rights Link: Article 2: Non-discrimination; Article 24: Health and health services
Day for Abolition of Slavery
Date: 2 Dec
What is it: The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery recalls the date of the adoption by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others of 2 December 1949.
Rights Link: Article 35: Abduction, sale and trafficking
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Date: 3 Dec
What is it: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the experience and capabilities of people with disabilities, and also a chance for people and organisations all over the world to focus on measures to support greater integration and equality for people with disabilities.
Rights Link: Article 23: Children with a disability
Human Rights Day
Date: 10 Dec
What is it: The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948 – the first global enunciation of human rights.
Rights Link: Article 4: Implementation of the Convention
International Migrants Day
Date: 18 Dec
What is it: This day aims to recognise the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants.
Rights Link: Article 10: Family reunification
International Human Solidarity Day
Date: 20 Dec
What is it: In 2005, the General Assembly of the United Nations identified solidarity as one of the fundamental values that should underlie international relations in the 21st century.
Rights Link: Article 26: Social security
