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20 November: what is celebrated today
On 20 November, the calendar fills with voices demanding rights, remembrance and awareness. It is a day that embraces childhood and its future, recalls struggles for human dignity, and celebrates knowledge, entrepreneurship and public health. From the Mexican Revolution to philosophical reflection, from children's rights to the sustainability of the planet, this day brings together causes that remind us that progress only makes sense if it is shared.
World Children’s Day / Universal Children’s Day
Proclaimed by the UN in 1954, this day invites us to see the world through the eyes of the youngest. It commemorates the approval of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which enshrines the right to life, health, education and protection from all forms of abuse or exploitation. UNICEF leads global campaigns every year — such as the recent “Let’s Listen to the Future” — reminding us that childhood is the mirror of tomorrow and that defending it is defending hope itself.
International Transgender Day of Remembrance
This date honours the memory of trans people who are victims of violence and intolerance. It arose in 1998, when Gwendolyn Ann Smith organised a vigil for Rita Hester, murdered in Massachusetts. Since then, the world has been tinged with violet light to remember that diversity is a strength, not a threat. Beyond mourning, this day invites us to build societies where respect and authenticity are rights and not risks.
World Pancreatic Cancer Day
Every third Thursday in November, the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition promotes campaigns to make a silent and devastating disease visible. Under slogans such as “Hello, pancreas”, it spreads the importance of early diagnosis and preventive habits. With one of the lowest survival rates in the world, this day appeals to empathy, research and citizens’ commitment to public health.
World Philosophy Day
Since 2002, UNESCO has dedicated this day to thought, dialogue and the search for meaning. Philosophy, “love of wisdom”, is presented as a tool for peace, capable of offering the conceptual foundations of democracy and human rights. In times of uncertainty, this day reminds us that thinking critically is also an act of resistance.
World Geographic Information Systems Day (GIS Day)
Created by the National Geographic Society in 1999, GIS Day celebrates the technology that makes it possible to understand the planet from new angles. Geographic information systems bring science and visualisation together to plan cities, protect the environment or respond to natural disasters. “Mapping minds, shaping the world” is more than a slogan: it is an invitation to use knowledge to guide the future.
Africa Industrialization Day
The UN established this day in 1990 to promote inclusive and sustainable development on the African continent. The so-called Agenda 2063 seeks to transform Africa’s natural and human wealth into an engine of economic independence. This day celebrates the potential of a young, vibrant and creative region striving to own its destiny.
Mexican Revolution Day
On 20 November 1910, Francisco I. Madero proclaimed the Plan of San Luis, starting a movement that would change Mexico’s course. The Mexican Revolution ended more than three decades of dictatorship and gave rise to a new Constitution and a modern state. Today, parades and tributes recall the courage of those who dreamed of justice and freedom.
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (AMR)**
Promoted by the World Health Organization, this week warns about the excessive use of antibiotics and its impact on global health. With the slogan “Educate. Raise awareness. Act now”, it calls on governments, professionals and citizens to curb antimicrobial resistance, one of the twenty-first century’s most urgent health threats.
European Week for Waste Reduction
Organised since 2009 by the European Steering Committee, this week promotes responsible and creative consumption habits. The 2024 theme, “Food waste”, addresses the contrast between excess and scarcity: millions of tonnes of food are lost while millions of people go hungry. Recycling, repairing and reusing become everyday gestures of environmental justice.
Global Entrepreneurship Week
More than 170 countries take part in this initiative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which celebrates the innovation, creativity and courage of those who turn ideas into realities. Workshops, forums and meetings connect dreamers from around the world under a shared conviction: every project is a seed of change.
Sugar Awareness Week
Promoted by the organisation World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health, this campaign seeks to reduce excessive sugar consumption and promote a balanced diet. With slogans such as “Less sugar in food eaten outside the home”, it invites us to look beyond flavour and consider the consequences for health and the planet.