1 May - International Workers’ Day
On 1 May, South Africa will enjoy Worker's Day (effectively a May Day holiday).
Worker's Day celebrates the role played by Trade Unions, the Communist Party and other labour movements in the struggle against Apartheid.
More info here
Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Discott
3 May - World Press Freedom Day
Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
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7 May - World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.
More info here
8 May - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2019
On World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day and throughout 2019, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will celebrate the strength and reach of their global network, and the contribution of their staff and 11.7 million active volunteers through the theme #Love.
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11 May - World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
The theme for 2019 is “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!”
More info here
11 May - World Fair Trade Day 2019
World Fair Trade Day falls every second Saturday in May. It is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to sustainable development, especially the economic empowerment of small producers, gender equality in workplaces and responsible production practices.
More info here
12 May - International Nurses Day
International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates this important day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day (IND) resources and evidence. The theme for 2019 is “Health for all”
More info here
17 May - Endangered Species Day
Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions they can take to help protect them.
More info here
22 May - International Day for Biological Diversity
The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 “The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)” to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
The theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2019 is: “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”.
The theme aims to leverage knowledge and spread awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition, and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
More info here
28 May - Menstrual Hygiene Day
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls. More specifically, MH Day:
• breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHM, and
• engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHM, at global, national and local levels.
More info here
30 May – World Multiple Sclerosis Day
World MS Day is officially marked on 30 May each year. Events and campaigns take place throughout the month of May. It brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise awareness and campaign with and for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis. The 2019 campaign will be called 'My Invisible MS' (#MyInvisibleMS) and the theme is Visibility.
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31 May - World No Tobacco Day
The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on "tobacco and lung health." The campaign will increase awareness on: the negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, the fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people. The campaign also serves as a call to action, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors in the fight for tobacco control.
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