World Day for Cultural Diversity
Next: May 21, 2027
Learn a greeting in someone else's language.
The story
Where it comes from
On 2 November 2001, UNESCO's member states unanimously adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, calling the world's many cultures 'the common heritage of humanity'. A year later, in December 2002, the UN General Assembly (resolution 57/249) proclaimed 21 May the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. UNESCO leads the day, and its message is that dialogue between cultures is not a nicety: it is one of the surest paths to peace, and to development that reaches everyone.
How it's celebrated
UNESCO and its partners hold talks, concerts and exhibitions. Since 2011 the UN Alliance of Civilizations and UNESCO have asked people to 'Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion': watch a film from another culture, visit a museum, cook a neighbour's dish, or learn about a country you have never visited. It is also a fine day to send a card in a language that is not your own.
Did you know
- Article 1 of the Declaration says cultural diversity is 'as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature', and the International Day for Biological Diversity follows on 22 May.
- UNESCO followed the Declaration with a binding treaty, the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted on 20 October 2005.
- Singapore's Constitution names four official languages, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English, and keeps Malay as the national language.
Coming up next
- International Day for Biological Diversity · May 22, 2027
- World Turtle Day · May 23, 2027
- International Day of the Markhor · May 24, 2027
- World Football Day · May 25, 2027
- Africa Day · May 25, 2027
- World Lindy Hop Day · May 26, 2027