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Welcome
International Days and major international conferences reflect a growing sense that we are part of One Humanity and One Life. On these occasions there is a special opportunity to serve in the creation of a world that reflects this spirit of Oneness in all its diversity.
As meditators we can symbolically stand together with all those actively working to create right human relations, and invoke the aid of the Forces of Light in support of these events.
Sustainable Development Goals & Climate Change
These International Days and events reflect important themes in the mobilization of energies to:
- Build right relations in the world by addressing serious problems of poverty, inequality and climate change through practical actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030
- engaging people of goodwill all over the world in a common movement.
2025 United Nations International Years
Silence at the United Nations
The Spiritual Caucus at the United Nations gathers subjectively and online(September - June) on the third Thursday every month for 30 minutes of silence followed by 30 minutes of dialogue, sharing insights and exploring ways to use an inner focus in service of the work of the UN.
On the first Thursday of the month, from October to June, Caucus members and others gather in the Meditation Room at the UN HQ in New York, from 12:30 – 1:00 pm. We spend 10-30 minutes in silence together, followed by optional conversation in the nearby cafe afterwards.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In February you are invited to gather in the UN Meditation Room for 10 - 30 minutes from 12.30 on February 6, and to join an online virtual gathering, including 30 minutes of silence, on Thursday, February 20, from 2.00- 3.15 pm EDT with a particular focus on supporting the UN. Write for details to info@spiritualcaucusun.org.
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February Please Hold These Events in the Light
February 1 - 7
World Interfaith Harmony Week
In November 2010, following a proposal by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe the first week of February every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The resolution recognized that the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs call for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding, and it reaffirmed that mutual understanding and inter religious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.
Countless events are held around the world during the week.
worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com
www.un.org/en/events/
www.uri.org/
February 2
World Wetlands Day
2025 Theme: Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future
Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.
It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.
World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems.
On February 2,1971 an intergovernmental treaty, The Ramsar Convention, was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar. It commits member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. It is the only environmental treaty governing a particular ecosystem.
www.worldwetlandsday.org
February 4 - 5
International Year of Quantum Science and Technology - Launch Event, UNESCO HQ, Paris.
The 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) recognizes 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. The Opening Ceremnony to launch the year will take place at UNESCO HQ
The mission of the International Year of Quantum Science & Technology (IYQ) is to use the occasion of 100 years of quantum mechanics in 2025 to help raise public awareness of the importance and impact of quantum science and applications on all aspects of life.
quantum2025.org
February 4
International Day of Human Fraternity
First celebrated in 2021, this is an annual event, observed by the UN, to celebrate the spirit of human fraternity and respect for diversity among all people across the globe.
The day commemorates the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 4, 2019.
In these times we need — perhaps more than ever before — to recognize the valuable contribution of people of all religions, or beliefs, to humanity and the contribution that dialogue among all religious groups can make towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind.
www.un.org/
www.forhumanfraternity.org
February 5
2025 ECOSOC Partnership Forum
2025 theme: Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
The annual Partnership Forum serves as a key platform for engaging a wide range of actors in the work of ECOSOC and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Participants include representatives of Member States, NGOs, local governments, the private sector, civil society, the UN system, international financial institutions, academia, and youth, among others. By bringing together these diverse voices, the Forum sets the stage for progress throughout the year, aligning stakeholders’ priorities and building momentum for ECOSOC’s initiatives.
sdgs.un.org
February 5 - 6
SDG Conference, Bergen, Norway
2025 Theme: Sustainable Health in Turbulent Times.
The annual SDG conference in Bergen brings together research and higher education communities, government officials, NGO's and industry from around the world to "discuss the university secotor's engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."
www.uib.no/
February 6
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. Over 140 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM.The United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF jointly lead the largest global program to accelerate the abandonment of FGM.
www.un.org/
www.unfpa.org/
www.unicef.org
February 5 - 14
UN Commission for Social Development
2025 Priority theme: Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Following the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, the Commission for Social Development is the major UN body responsible for implementation and follow-up on the Programme of Action agreed to at the Summit. This means that the annual meetings of the Commission in New York provide an important arena for governments and civil society to review progress and develop dialogue around key themes, including poverty eradication, disability, youth, ageing, families.
A Civil Society Forum is organised every year at the UN during the Commission by the NGO Committee on Social Development.
www.social.desa.un.org/
ngosocdev.org
February 10
World Pulses Day
2025 Theme:Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems
World Pulses Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses and their contribution to sustainable food systems and a world without hunger. Pulses are critical in addressing the challenges of poverty, food security, human health and nutrition, soil health and environment, thereby contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals
Following the UN's International Year of Pulses in 2016, World Pulses Day has been observed since 2019.
www.un.org/
www.fao.org/
worldpulsesday.org
February 10
International Day of the Arabian Leopard
The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is a critically endangered leopard subspecies that inhabits the Arabian Peninsula.... rapid disappearance of the Arabian leopard represents a major setback for biodiversity conservation in its native region, underscoring the urgency of addressing the nature crisis that threatens ecosystems worldwide.
By celebrating this Day, the UN ultimately seeks to restore the Arabian leopard as a flagship species for conservation and sustainability in its native region while emphasizing the critical role of biodiversity in maintaining the health and resilience of our planet’s ecosystems.
www.un.org/
February 11
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
2025 Theme: Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science
A significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
Every year a Women and Girls in Science Assembly is held at UN HQ in New York to mark the day. This year the Assembly observes the 10th anniversary of the #FEBRUARY11 Global Movement.
www.un.org/
en.unesco.org/
www.womeninscienceday.org
February 11 - 13
World Governments Summit 2025, Dubai, UAE
2025 Theme: Shaping Future Governments.
A global, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments, the World Governments Summit explores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve humanity's universal challenges.
The 2025 Summit will bring together governments, international organizations, thought leaders, and private sector leaders from around the globe to foster international cooperation and identify innovative solutions for future challenges, ultimately inspiring and empowering the next generation of governments.
worldgovernmentsummit.org/
February 12
Full Moon — Aquarius
Since ancient times human beings have honored the full moon as a time when the sacred is most accesible. It is a time of light — the moon reflects the light of the sun onto the face of the earth. In astrology this is a time when the qualities and potentials of the zodiacal sign of the sun are especially available to humanity for use in service.
During the full moon religious and esoteric groups around the world use the opportunities of this time to vizualize light and love and spiritual power flowing into humanity and strengthening all that is being done to help prepare the way for a world of unity, justice and peace; a world in which the Sustainable Development Goals are in process of being achieved.
www.lucistrust.org
February 12
International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism
Violent extremism is an affront to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. It undermines peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. No country or region is immune from its impacts.
Violent extremism is a diverse phenomenon, without clear definition. It is neither new nor exclusive to any region, nationality or system of belief. Nevertheless, in recent years, terrorist groups such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and Boko Haram have shaped our image of violent extremism and the debate on how to address this threat. These groups’ message of intolerance — religious, cultural, social — has had drastic consequences for many regions of the world. Holding territory and using social media for real-time communication of their atrocious crimes, they seek to challenge our shared values of peace, justice and human dignity. The UN affirms that violent extremism conducive to terrorism is not associated with any religion, nationality,civilization or ethnic group.
www.un.org/
www.un.org/counterterrorism/
UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism
February 13 - 14
2025 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations, UN HQ, New York
2025 Theme: Scaling up action for the Sustainable Development Goals: Finance, Institutions, and Politics.
This annual joint UN-International Parliamentary Union (IPU) hearing brings parliamentarians from different countries together at the UN to consider common issues. Following the adoption by governments of the Pact for the Future at the UN in September 2024, this years Hearings will seek to enhance commitments by Parliaments to the achievement of the SDGs and will also provide an opportunity for a reflection among parliamentarians on ways to close the financing gap for the SDGs in view of the 4th UN Conference on Financing for Development, in Spain, in June 2025.
www.ipu.org
February 13
World Radio Day
2025 Theme: Radio and Climate Change
Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard.
The 2025 theme aims to support radio stations in their journalistic coverage of climate change, recognizing that In accordance with the Paris Agreement, if humanity is to limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 at the latest, before they begin to fall.
www.un.org/
www.unesco.org
February 17
Global Tourism Resilience Day
For many developing countries, including the least developed countries, small island developing states, countries in Africa and middle-income countries, tourism is a major source of income, foreign currency earnings, tax revenue and employment. Because tourism connects people with nature, sustainable tourism has the unique ability to spur environmental responsibility and conservation.
Global Tourism Resilience Day aims to emphasize the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account the vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies. It is also a call for action for Member States to develop national strategies for rehabilitation after disruptions, including through private-public cooperation and the diversification of activities and products.
www.un.org/
tourism4sdgs.org
February 20
World Day of Social Justice
2025 Theme:Achieving Social Justice through inclusive social health protection
The United Nations World Day of Social Justice celebrates the international agreements reached at the World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen, 1995.
On this Day governments are called upon to undertake concrete activities towards the goals of poverty eradication, full employment and social integration.
The World Summit in 1995 recognised that social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies.
http://www.un.org/en/events/
www.ilo.org/
February 21
International Mother Language Day
2025 Theme: Languages matter: Silver Jubilee Celebration of International Mother Language Day
2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Mother Language Day. We live in One World, and are all part of One Life. Yet within this unified whole each individual unit is precious and significant. It is essential that cultural diversity be fostered to maintain richness and variety in the human community. At the heart of culture is language.
Each individual's mother language plays a vital role in their health and development: "It is the language of childhood, of intimate family experience and of our social relations". Yet in a world of increasing globalization small language groups find it increasingly difficult to survive.
UNESCO estimates that about half of the approximately 6,000 languages spoken in the world are under threat.
International Mother Language Day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multi-lingualism.
www.un.org
www.unesco.org/
February 24 - 28
Conference on Disarmament, High Level Segment, UNHQ, Geneva
The Conference on Disarmament is a multilateral disarmament forum established by the international community to negotiate arms control and disarmament agreements based at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Conference meets annually in three separate sessions with the High Level Segment taking place in the first session (January 20 - March 28). It is the world's single, on-going multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations, and although it is formally independent of the United Nations, it is linked to it in a number of ways and submits a report of its activities every year to the General Assembly.
disarmament.unoda.org
en.wikipedia.org/
www.unfoldzero.org
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