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19 November: what is celebrated today
19 November is a day that combines reflection, health and balance. Gender equality, public health, innovation and commitment to a cleaner planet intertwine. From debates on masculinity to the struggle for a world without preventable diseases or inequalities, this date is a mosaic of causes that invite thought about human dignity in all its forms.
International Men's Day
More than a commemorative date, International Men's Day is an invitation to reconsider men's role in the contemporary world. Since 1992, when Thomas Oaster first proposed it, this day has become a space for dialogue about mental health, fatherhood, education and emotional wellbeing.
Far from the caricature of unshakeable strength, today's man seeks to reconcile himself with his vulnerability. Movember campaigns and slogans such as “Positive male role models” champion a new paradigm: men who care, who listen, who feel. Celebrating this day also means remembering that equality is not achieved by setting genders against one another, but by sharing our humanity.
World Sanitation or Toilet Day
It may seem curious to dedicate a day to the toilet, but behind it lies a stark reality: more than 3.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services. By proclaiming this date, the UN sought to make visible a silent crisis affecting the health, dignity and safety of millions.
The 2024 slogan —“The toilet is a place for peace”— underlines its role as a symbol of basic wellbeing and social stability. A safe bathroom can prevent disease, save lives and restore lost privacy. In the act of turning on a tap or closing a door, there is sometimes more civilisation than in any speech.
International Day of Women Entrepreneurs
On the same day that men are celebrated, the world pays tribute to women entrepreneurs. This coincidence is not irony, but balance: both genders are pillars of change. Since 2014, this date has highlighted women who transform the economy through their creativity and tenacity, challenging the pay gap and glass ceilings.
Every woman-led business is an act of resistance and hope. In Africa, Latin America or Europe, thousands of social and technological projects bear women’s names. This day reminds us that equal opportunity is not a utopia, but an investment in the future.
World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day
Breathing: such a natural act that it is valued only when it is absent. World COPD Day, promoted by the GOLD initiative, seeks to raise awareness of a disease that limits the lives of millions. The 2024 slogan —“Know your lung function”— invites everyone to measure their respiratory health and not ignore the first symptoms.
Pollution, tobacco and stale air are invisible enemies of the lungs. Caring for breathing is caring for life itself. In every inhalation there is a promise: that clean air should not be a privilege, but a universal right.
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (AMR)
From 18 to 24 November, the WHO leads a global campaign seeking to curb one of the 21st century’s quietest threats: antimicrobial resistance. Under the slogan “Educate. Raise awareness. Act now”, doctors, patients and governments are called upon to avoid irresponsible antibiotic use.
Every poorly administered treatment, every unnecessary act of self-medication, feeds a future in which infections will once again be fatal. Science has provided the tools; the responsibility to use them wisely belongs to everyone.
European Week for Waste Reduction
The European Week for Waste Reduction is also under way, focusing this year on food waste. On a continent that throws away millions of tonnes of food while millions go hungry, the message is urgent: rethink consumption.
Donate, compost, repair: three verbs that can redefine our relationship with the planet. Europe is driving a cultural change in which every citizen becomes a guardian of the shared future.
Sugar Awareness Week
At the same time, World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health reminds us that excess sugar is a modern epidemic. Under the slogan “Less sugar in food eaten out of the home”, it encourages reducing its presence in restaurants and industrial products.
Sugar sweetens, but it also makes people ill. Learning to live with it in balance and awareness is a form of self-care. Health begins with small everyday gestures.
Global Entrepreneurship Week
Meanwhile, the world is buzzing with Global Entrepreneurship Week, where more than 170 countries celebrate the innovation and courage of those who dare to create. From an idea in a notebook to a global start-up, every project is born from the same drive: to improve the lives of others.
Entrepreneurship is an act of faith in the future. And in a world that changes at dizzying speed, creativity —more than capital— becomes everyone’s most valuable resource.