UN Observed International Years

These are the international years currently observed by the United Nations or UN observed International years:

2016
International Year of Pulses
International Year of Camelids

2015
International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies
International Year of Soils [FAO]

2014
International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
International Year of Small Island Developing States
International Year of Crystallography
International Year of Family Farming

2013
International Year of Water Cooperation
International Year of Quinoa

2012
International Year of Cooperatives
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

2011
International Year for People of African Descent
International Year of Chemistry
International Year of Forests
International Year of Youth

2010
International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 — 11 August 2011)
International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
International Year of Biodiversity
International Year of the Seafarer

2009
International Year of Reconciliation
International Year of Natural Fibres
International Year of Human Rights Learning
International Year of Astronomy
Year of the Gorilla (UNEP and UNESCO)

2008
International Year of Planet Earth
International Year of Languages
International Year of Sanitation
International Year of the Potato

2007-2008
International Polar Year (WMO)

2006
International Year of Deserts and Desertification

2005
International Year of Microcredit
International Year for Sport and Physical Education
International Year of Physics

2004
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
International Year of Rice

2003
Year of Kyrgyz Statehood
International Year of Freshwater

2002
United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage
International Year of Mountains
International Year of Ecotourism

2001
United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations
International Year of Volunteers
International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

2000
International Year of Thanksgiving
International Year for the Culture of Peace

1999
International Year of Older Persons

1998
International Year of the Ocean

1996
International Year for the Eradication of Poverty

1995
United Nations Year for Tolerance
World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War

1994
International Year of the Family
International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal

1993
International Year for the World’s Indigenous People

1992
International Space Year

1990
International Literacy Year

1987
International Year of Shelter for The Homeless

1986
International Year of Peace

1985
Year of the United Nations
International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace

1983
World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures

1982
International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa

1981
International Year for Disabled Persons

1979
International Year of The Child

1978/79
International Anti-Apartheid Year

1975
International Women’s Year

1974
World Population Year

1971
International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice

1970
International Education Year

1968
International Year for Human Rights

1967
International Tourist Year

1965
International Co-operation Year

1961
International Health and Medical Research Year

1959/1960
World Refugee Year