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29 November: what is celebrated today
29 November brings together on the calendar a powerful mix of human struggles and the voices of the planet: the memory of a people seeking justice, the strength of women defending everyone's rights, and the silent roar of nature asking to be protected. There is also room for science, which sheds light on rare diseases, and for compassion, which reminds us that every being—human or animal—deserves respect. It is a day that combines awareness, empathy and action.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this day in 1977 to recall that the Palestinian conflict remains unresolved. On 29 November 1947, the UN approved the Partition Resolution, which envisaged the creation of two states: one Jewish and one Arab. Only one became a reality. Since then, this date has represented the hope of a people still claiming its inalienable rights: self-determination, independence and return to its land.
Every year, symbolic events are held at UN headquarters and in different cities around the world, where messages of solidarity are read, exhibitions opened and documentaries on Gaza and the West Bank screened. Beyond flags and speeches, this day invites us to look with empathy at the suffering of millions of people who continue to live between walls and borders. Remembering Palestine is not a political gesture: it is an act of humanity.
International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
Also on 29 November, the world pays tribute to thousands of women who risk their lives for freedom, justice and equality. Since 2005, this day has made visible those who denounce gender-based violence, rights violations and social injustices on every continent. Being a defender is not only a vocation: it is a form of resistance.
Many of them face harassment, threats, persecution and censorship, but their voice persists. They fight for the right to decide, for education, for peace. Their names rarely fill headlines, but their legacy transforms realities. This day is for them: for those who march, teach, write and protect.
World Jaguar Conservation Day
In the depths of Latin America, the jaguar walks silently. It is the continent’s largest feline and a symbol of ecological balance. Its survival is threatened by deforestation and poaching, which is why since 2018 the UN and several environmental organisations have promoted International Jaguar Day.
The Jaguar 2030 Plan seeks to create a biological corridor connecting its habitat from Mexico to Argentina. Conserving the jaguar is conserving the rainforest: without it, ecosystems lose their harmony. This day reminds us that protecting an animal is protecting the entire life that depends on it.
World Anteater Day
The most curious of American mammals also has its day. The anteater, with its long snout and sticky tongue, is a symbol of fragility and adaptation. It lives in forests and savannahs, but its home is reduced every year by habitat loss and hunting. This date seeks to raise awareness of the importance of conserving it and protecting its natural environment.
Although it does not have the jaguar’s strength or the panda’s fame, its ecological role is vital: it controls insect populations and maintains soil balance. Remembering it is a way of learning humility before the diversity of life.
Menkes Syndrome Awareness Day
Copper, element number 29 in the periodic table, gives its name to this observance dedicated to a rare and devastating disease. Menkes Syndrome affects the body’s ability to absorb and distribute copper, causing serious neurological and developmental alterations in children.
Every 29 November, doctors, researchers and families come together to make the disease visible, promote research and support patients. It is a day that reminds us that even the most infrequent cases deserve attention and hope.