2020 Q4
December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities [UN]
December 1, World AIDS Day
November 25, Orange the World
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women [UN] As countries implemented lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, violence against women, especially domestic violence, intensified – in some countries, calls to helplines have increased five-fold.
The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, will focus on amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence during the COVID-19 crisis, focus on prevention, and collection of data that can improve life-saving services for women and girls.
This year’s theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”.Like in previous years, this year's International Day will mark the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2020, which is International Human Rights Day.
October 11-17, National Women's Blood Pressure Awareness Week, download PDF flyer
October 10, World Mental Health Day [WHO]
2020 Q3
August 29, Enditnow® Emphasis Day
[GC] The 2020 enditnow® Emphasis Day sermon and resource packet titled, When Jesus Ended It!, is written by Pastor Anthony Kent, associate secretary of the General Conference Ministerial Association. The seminar, The Wounds of Abuse: Can We Do More?, was published in Ministry® International Journal for Pastors, November 2018.
September 8, International Literacy Day [UN]
The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world governments in September 2015 include in its agenda the universal access to quality education and learning opportunities. Sustainable Development Goal 4 includes a target of ensuring that all young people achieve literacy and numeracy and that adults lacking these skills have the opportunity to acquire them.
ADRA's literacy initiative Every Child. Everywhere. In School.
July 30, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons [UN]
The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda adopted by world governments in September 2015 includes goals that call for measures against human trafficking and elimination of all forms of violence against and exploitation of women and girls.
Download U.N.'s PDF booklet Global Report for Trafficking in Persons 2018
2020 Q2
June 13, Women's Ministries Emphasis Day
[GC] The 2020 Women's Ministries Emphasis Day sermon and resource packet titled, Christ's Amazing Love Moves Me, is written by Heather-Dawn Small, director of women's ministries for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
June 1, Reach the World - Reach Across: Nurture and Reclaiming Day [GC]
May 31, World No Tobacco Day [WHO] (WHA Resolution 42.19)
April 27, Adventist Possibilities Ministry Awareness Day [GC]
April 7, World Health Day [WHO]
2020 Q1
March 27 – July 4, 100 Days of Prayer
[GC] 100 Days of Prayer, revivalandreformation.org/100days, is time set aside for the world church to pray together for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for personal revival for mission, for the COVID-19 pandemic, for local churches to be a light to the world during this time of crisis. Join us as we focus on these issues. Daily readings and other resources are available.
March 21,International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [UN]
March 8, International Women's Day
[UN] International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
It is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. Some key targets of the 2030 Agenda:
- By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes.
- By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.
- End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
- Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
March 2, International Women's Day of Prayer
[GC] The 2020 International Women's Day of Prayer sermon and resource packet titled "Virtuous Living in an Un-virtuous World" is written by Melody Mason, author of Daring to Ask for More: Divine Keys to Answered Prayer, and the soon-to-be released Daring to Live by Every Word: Loving God with Heart, Body, Mind & Soul.
February 6, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
[UN] Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls. The practice also violates their rights to health, security and physical integrity, their right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and their right to life when the procedure results in death.
- Globally, it is estimated that at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM.
- Girls 14 and younger represent 44 million of those have been cut with the highest prevalence of FGM among this age in Gambia at 56 per cent, Mauritania 54 per cent, and Indonesia where around half the girls aged 11 and younger have undergone the practice.
- Countries with the highest prevalence among girls and women aged 15 to 19 are Somalia 98 per cent, Guinea 97 per cent, and Kijbouti 93 per cent.
- FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15.
- FGM causes severe bleeding and health issues including cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth increased risk of newborn deaths.
February 4, World Cancer Day [UN]
January 8-18, Ten Days of Prayer, Seeking God's Spirit [GC]
