International Mother Earth Day 2026; April 22nd.

FORUM: "Our Power, Our Planet" International Mother Earth Day 2026. This year’s theme is reflecting a fundamental truth: environmental progress doesn’t depend on any single administration or election. It’s sustained by daily actions of communities, educators, workers, and families protecting where they live and work. At a moment of heightened uncertainty and environmental stress, one conclusion is clear and broadly shared: progress in protecting our land, air, and water is real,

resilient, and ongoing. The theme reflects a fundamental truth that transcends political cycles. Environmental stewardship has never depended on a single administration, institution, or election. It is sustained by the daily decisions of people who understand that protecting the places where they live and work is both a responsibility and a long-term investment. Earth Day 2026 affirms that the capacity to address environmental challenges is firmly established. Progress is happening across communities through local leadership, pragmatic solutions, and cross-sector collaboration. The campaign focuses on community-led action for climate resilience, clean energy, and protecting public health. Events, including beach cleanups and park restoration, are occurring throughout April, with major activities slated for Earth Week. Our Power, Our Planet is not a political statement. It is a commitment to stewardship, resilience, and shared accountability — a call for every individual, community, and

sector to exercise their power in service of the planet we all depend on. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #EarthActionDay, #OurPowerOurPlanet, #EarthDay2026, #22april.

EVENTS: On Wednesday, April 22nd, a virtual event will be held with the theme "Our Power, Our Planet" to mark the International Mother Earth Day 2026 and to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the Earth Day movement. Register to participate!

LIVESTREAM: Earth Day Live: America’s Cities Are Stepping Up on Climate.

Across the United States, cities are driving real climate progress at the local level, expanding clean energy, strengthening infrastructure, and advancing public health and environmental justice. At a time when federal climate funding is being rolled back or restructured, municipal leaders are adapting in real time by reprioritizing investments, leveraging public-private partnerships, and identifying innovative financing pathways to sustain progress and protect community outcomes. This Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG and Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) convene three municipal leaders turning climate commitments into measurable, community-focused outcomes. The panel explores how cities deliver fiscally responsible solutions, leverage partnerships, and build resilience through local policy, financing, and collaboration. From its origins in 1970 as a mass civic movement, Earth Day’s legacy continues today in cities, where local leaders drive practical, accountable climate action. Across the United States, cities are proving that meaningful climate and environmental progress can begin at the local level. Municipal leaders are achieving outcomes that improve daily life for residents, from expanding clean energy and strengthening resilient infrastructure to protecting public health and advancing environmental justice.

With over 10,000 events, the 2026 Event Map shows the community power taking place across the globe. Join us for Earth Day 2026 activities on Saturday, April 18th, and continue the momentum through Earth Day on April 22nd -- and beyond..

Statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on International Mother Earth Day 2026; April 22nd.


Mother Earth has given us everything. We have repaid her with reckless destruction – polluting her air, poisoning her waters, destabilizing her climate, and pushing countless species to the brink.

She is sounding the alarm – through fire, flood, drought, deadly heat, and rising sea levels. Yet our response is falling dangerously short.

We have the solutions. In most of the world, renewable energy is now the cheapest source of electricity. Climate action is creating jobs, strengthening economies, and saving lives. But we are moving too slowly. We must break our dependence on fossil fuels, protect and restore nature at scale, and deliver climate justice for those who did least to cause this crisis yet suffer the most.

Around the world, young activists, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, and civil society are already leading the way. Their power is our power. Governments and business must match that courage with urgent action – for our planet, for all who depend on her, and for every generation to come.

António Guterres; Secretary-General of the United Nations.

TAKE ACTION: Progress does not happen in silence. It happens when people show up.

Environmental progress is built through everyday action—from communities protecting ecosystems to innovators advancing solutions. Clean air, safe water, and climate resilience aren’t optional—they’re essential. For Earth Day 2026, we’re mobilizing at scale. Every action counts. Every voice matters.

Pillar One: Resilience and Institutional Continuity

• The work continues regardless of federal policy
• Environmental action is local and decentralized — policy shifts happen in your
• town, not just Washington
• Progress is already operational, not aspirational — solar programs, efficiency
• investments, ecosystem restoration exist and are working
• Economics, education, and conservation outlast political cycles — these don't disappear with an administration change

Pillar Two: Shared Interests and Interconnected Outcomes

• Environmental protection affects everyone, everywhere
• Human health — asthma, lead, climate-driven illness affect real families
• Economic security — farmers, fishers, firefighters all depend on a healthy
• environment
• Spiritual & moral values — stewardship of the Earth isn't political, it's biblical
• Global ecosystems — what happens over there affects what happens here
• Quality of life — can my kids fish in the local stream? Can they breathe clean air?

GET INVOLVED!

Every individual has the power to create change. Join community cleanups, tree plantings, or peaceful demonstrations. Contact elected officials. Teach others. Make sustainable choices daily. When individuals act, communities form. When communities speak up, leaders listen. Discover 50 ways to take action.50 Day Tips

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Access free toolkits to plan your Earth Day 2026 event: Community Cleanup Kit, Peaceful Demonstration Guide, Tree Planting Organizer, Town Hall Planning Guide, Voter Registration Drive Kit, Teach-In Curriculum, and Faith Gathering Resources. Each includes step-by-step planning guides, promotional templates, safety guidelines, and talking points. Access everything at The Earth Hub.How to plan my events (resource page) Earth Hub.

Our Power, Our Planet

Stories from Around the World

World Creativity and Innovation Day 2026; April 21st.

FORUM: "Making Creativity Matter." World Creativity & Innovation Day 2026. It's time to encourage creative multidisciplinary thinking to help us achieve the sustainable future we want. Innovation is essential for harnessing the economic potential of nations. Follow the conversation with the hashtags #21April, #WCID; #WorldCreativityandInnovationDay; #InnovationDay.

EVENTS: Take part in the global celebration of creative expression.

• Online, from 2 March 2026 to 1 March 2027; A Year Living with Your Imagination.
• Online, from 2 to 30 April 2026; Afrogoth – A fashion movement for curious, playful global citizens who love the stories and histories that clothes tell.
• Private, Lansing, Michigan from 15 to 22 April 2026; Accelerating Growth Through AI.
• In Person, from 15 to 21 April 2026; Find the Creativity Virus.
• Online, from 15 to 30 April 2026; Unleashing Your Creativity Package.
• Online, from 15 April 2026 - 21 April 2026; The Invisible Drag Room for Creativity.
• Online, from 15 to 21 April 2026; UJ World Creativity and Innovation Week – Theme: Future Ready – Creative Confidence for One World of Many Ideas.
• Online, from 15 to 21 April 2026 ; Beyond the Brainstorm: World-Class Thinkers on Creativity, Innovation and What Actually Works.
• Online, from 16 to 20 April 2026; WCIW-challenge.

ACTIONS

•  Encourage creativity in homes, schools, and communities
•  Inspire everyone to live more creative lives.

Chinese Language Day 2026; April 20th.

FORUM: Language Days at the United Nations seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. The date for the Chinese day was selected from Guyu ("Rain of Millet"), which is the 6th of 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendars, to pay tribute to Cangjie. Cangjie is a very important figure in ancient China, claimed to be an official historian of the Yellow Emperor and the inventor of Chinese characters. Legend has it that he had four eyes and four pupils, and that when he invented the characters, the deities and ghosts cried and the sky rained millet. From then on, Chinese people celebrate the day Guyu in honour of Cangjie. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around April 20. Chinese was established as an official language of the United Nations in 1946. However, in early years, Chinese was not commonly used in the work of the United Nations. The situation was improved after restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations in 1971. In 1973, the General Assembly included Chinese as a working language, which was followed by the Security Council in 1974. More and more UN offices and staff members work with Chinese language. Follow the conversations with the hashtags:#learnChinese, #chineselanguageday, #20April, #Chineselanguage.

EVENTS: On April 20th 2026, from 18:00pm to 20:30pm, New York time at the Curved Wall in the United Nations Headquaters, the 2026 observance of the United Nations Chinese Language Day and the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Chinese Translation Service will be held.

 A series of cultural events have been held in multiple locations worldwide to mark the 2026 United Nations Chinese Language Day. 

On Monday, a special celebration commemorating both the Chinese Language Day and the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Language Service will be held at the United Nations Headquarters.
The celebration, jointly organized by the Chinese Book Club at the UN, the Chinese Translation Service, and the Chinese Language Teaching Unit, will be held in the Delegates Entrance Hall. Activities will include guided exhibition tours, cultural performances, and interactive experiences showcasing elements of China's intangible cultural heritage.

The celebration aims to promote the richness of the Chinese language and culture, while highlighting the contributions of Chinese language professionals within the UN system.

The UN has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. To highlight linguistic and cultural diversity and promote the equal use of these languages, the UN Department of Global Communications launched UN Language Days in 2010. It designated April 20 — coinciding with Grain Rain in the traditional Chinese calendar — as Chinese Language Day, in honor of Cangjie, the "ancestor of Chinese characters."

In addition, special lectures and cultural experience activities will be held at the UN on April 21 to further promote exchanges and mutual learning between the Chinese language and the world's diverse cultures, the UN's official website announced.

In recent days, various locations around the world have held vibrant celebrations to mark this year's UN Chinese Language Day. According to the Xinhua News Agency, in Warsaw, Poland, nearly 200 Chinese and Polish students gathered at SWPS University for performances and exchanges under the theme of cultural exchange between China and the West. In Sofia, Bulgaria, the Confucius Institute organized a Chinese singing contest and inaugurated a peony culture center on Saturday local time.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Lusaka, Zambia, universities and Confucius Institutes also presented songs, dances, and cultural performances to highlight the growing global appeal of the Chinese language. Similar events in Nairobi, Kenya, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, emphasized dialogue among civilizations and the role of Chinese in sparking colorful dreams.

Earlier, a celebration titled Chinese Language Shining Civilizations was held at the UN headquarters in New York to mark the UN Chinese Language Day. At the end of its report, the UN noted that in today's world, where globalization and digitalization are deeply intertwined, Chinese is continuously gaining new vitality.

At the intersection of technological empowerment and cultural heritage, the Chinese language not only connects the past with the future, but also facilitates communication among civilizations and contributes to a new chapter of multilateralism, the report said.

Wang Deyan, director of the Chinese Language Department at the School of Liberal Arts and Law of North China University of Technology, expressed support. He told the Global Times on Sunday that the widespread global celebrations of UN Chinese Language Day highlight the status of Chinese as an official global language and reflect the growing influence of the Chinese language and culture.

Wang further noted that the Chinese Language Day is not only a celebration of language and culture, but also an important example of China promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, participating in global cultural governance, and contributing to a more just and inclusive international order. Amid profound global changes unseen in a century, cultural connection through language is more enduring than confrontation and division.

"At a time when global trust and understanding deficits are intensifying, language and culture serve as the most accessible and non-confrontational means of communication. Chinese cultural elements such as calligraphy, intangible cultural heritage, and creative products going global are not merely displays, but a subtle way of conveying Chinese values and wisdom, presenting a multidimensional and authentic image of China, easing misunderstandings, and bringing a sense of inclusiveness to a tense international climate," Wang said.

From another perspective, the global discourse system has long been imbalanced. Through language promotion, the Chinese Language Day also shares traditional concepts such as harmony, coexistence, and the pursuit of common good, offering an alternative perspective in global cultural discourse and helping foster a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive cultural landscape in line with the vision of a shared future for humanity, said the expert.

On April 20th 2026, from 8:30am to 11:30am, New York time. Join the virtual forum entitled ''Fluent Futures Forum: Chinese Learning and Youth Engagement for a Multilingual UN 2.0 World'' to explore the role of youth in advancing Multilingualism utilizing UN 2.0 Quintet of Skills through the lens of Chinese language learning within and beyond the United Nations.


This year’s theme is “Fluent Futures Forum: Chinese Learning and Youth Engagement for a Multilingual UN 2.0 World”, which highlights the role of multilingualism in strengthening global cooperation and empowering the next generation. The Fluent Futures Forum will bring together speakers from across the United Nations system, academia, and global media. They will discuss how learning Chinese supports youth engagement, leadership development, and intercultural communication. The programme includes a keynote address by the UN Youth Office, alongside talks on Chinese as a “bridge language” for UN 2.0, youth career pathways, AI and language learning, and SDG-driven curriculum design. Speakers include a prominent French media personality working in Chinese-language broadcasting, a senior UNFPA staff member engaged in Chinese-language study, and a Malagasy scholar currently pursuing her PhD in China. Join us in celebrating UN Chinese Language Day and reaffirming the United Nations commitment to linguistic diversity and an inclusive global dialogue. The Fluent Futures Forum is organized by the Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) in the Capacity Development and Operational Training Services (CDOTS) within the Office of Support Operations (OSO) of the Department of Operational Support (DOS).

Non‑UN participants can register to participate.
UN‑internal participants can join the event directly

Find the full programme on UN.org.
To attend the Fluent Futures Forum on 20 April, join the event via Microsoft Teams.
Join the virtual forum  via Microsoft Teams.

On April 17th, 2026 at the ''Palace of Nations'' in Geneva, Switzerland; The 6th China Media Group (CMG) Chinese Language Video Festival held to mark the 2026 United Nations Chinese Language Day.

On April 14th, 2026 at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) in Kenya, the celebration of the U.N. Chinese Language Day 2026 was held. Related Sites and Documents: website & Programme

Watch celebrating Chinese Language Day 2026 - Nairobi!

World Art Day 2026; April 15th.

FORUM: "Art & Human Dignity: Human Rights and Healing Arts for a Culture of Peace." World Art Day 2026. Each year, the celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education. Under the patronage of UNESCO, in partnership with the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Global Peace Education Network (GPEN), Dr. Guila Clara Kessous is organizing the forum “Art & Human Dignity: Human Rights and Healing Arts for a Culture of Peace”. This forum, aligned with UNESCO’s mandate to promote the arts as a bridge across cultures, ideologies, languages and geographies, reflects the crucial use of arts as an enabler for healing and social cohesion, contributing to consolidating a culture of peace. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #worldArtDay, #15April, #Arts.

EVENT: On April 15th; The event held on World Art Day 2026 will examine the positive impact of the arts in promoting global peace, human rights, health, and well-being. As stated by Dr. Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace, and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva): “The impact of art is underestimated today. We have a limited view of the artist as someone who produces beauty devoid of social conscience. In response, many artists decide to combine activism and art to become ‘artivists’ – offering their talents to alleviate suffering, promote peace and prevent war.”

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"The impact of art is underestimated today. We have a limited view of the artist as someone who produces beauty devoid of social conscience. In response, many artists decide to combine activism and art to become ‘artivists’ – offering their talents to alleviate suffering, promote peace and prevent war."
Dr. Kessous UNESCO Artist for Peace, and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva). Watch the trailer of this event here

Agenda Programme

7:00 PM CET Time - INTRODUCTION

- Dr. Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace – Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva)
- Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO
- Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organization, Co-founder, and Co-director Jameel Arts & Health Lab
- Dr. Nisha Sajnani, Director of the Program in Drama Therapy; Chair, Creative Arts Therapies Consortium; Founder of the Arts and Health initiative at New York University; Co-founder and Co-director Jameel Arts & Health Lab


7:30 PM CET Time – ART and HEALING

Roundtable: Healing through Art

- Dr. Vicky Karkou Director of the Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Edge Hill University, UK
- Dr. Pierre Lemarquis, neurologist, musicologist, member of the Society of Francophone Clinical Neurophysiologists and of the New York Academy of Sciences, France
- Alfredo Fort, MD, Msc. Ph.D. Global health consultant, El Salvador

Roundtable: “Verstohlen”: The Art of Being Human

- Antoine Fenoglio, designer, « Design with care », Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers, chaire Humanités et Santé, France
- Cynthia Fleury, philosopher

“Museums on Prescription”: a Canadian initiative
- Stephen Legari, Program Officer, Art Therapy, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- Sophie Lessard-Latendresse, Head of the art and wellness development at the National Museum of Fine Arts Of Quebec


8:30 PM CET Time – ART, HUMAN RIGHTS, and SOCIAL HEALTH

The core of Art - Charles Pépin, philosopher

Roundtable: Ethical Artistic Practice in support of Human Rights and Dignity

- Alison Phipps, UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts at the University of Glasgow.
- Taigué Ahmed, artivist, Chadian choreographer and director of the association Ndam Se Na in N'Djamena.
- Jonathan Fox, Co-Founder of Playback Theatre, USA

Artivism

- Fabrice Don de Dieu, artivist, “Refugees on the Move” workshops for refugees from the Central African Republic


9:00 PM – ART and PEACE EDUCATION

Roundtable: Peace Education through Art

- Dr. Tony Jenkins, Manager, International Institute for Peace Education, Georgetown University, USA
- David Cottrrell, Artist in residence, Department of Defense, UK
- Tarrie Burnett, Executive Director for Tomorrow’s Women, Israel

Roundtable: Peacebuilding through Art

- Alla Rogers, Director, Art and Cultural Impact Programs, Global Peace Education Network.
- Melvin Hardy, Arts and Education Social Entrepreneur. United Nations
- Dr. Lisa Worth Huber, National Peace Academy, USA

Theatre of The Oppressed

- Dr. Julian Boal, Co-Founder, Escola de Teatro Poplar/ The School of Popular Theatre, Brazil
- Dr. Nisha Sajnani, Director of the Program in Drama Therapy; Chair, Creative Arts Therapies Consortium; Founder of the Arts and Health initiative at New York University; Co-founder and Co-director Jameel Arts & Health Lab

10:00 PM CET Time – CONCLUSION

- Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Mukwege Foundation, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

African congolese initiative: art to help the fight against child labor in mines

- His Excellency Archimede Kabeya Kalasa
- Executive secretary of the Governement of Province Lualaba, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Music for hope
- Jean Michel Jarre, Artist, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

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Rising voices

Roundtable: Art Therapy Methodology

- Dr. Jacques STITELMANN – PhD. Psychologue FSP, Psychothérapeute ASP, Switzerland
- Dr. Jean-Pierre Klein, Psychiatrist, Director of the National Institute of Expression, Creation, Art and Therapy, France
- François Lacroix, MD, Art Therapist, Head of “L’Atelier des Possibles”, Switzerland


Roundtable: Art with social and medical impact

- Marlène Huissoud, experimental designer, Arts Foundation UK for the Material Innovation Award, 2016, UK
- Dr Myriam Belghazi Nciri, President of the Association “Dar Zhor”, Morocco
- François Struzik, photoreporter on the human side, “Simply Human” initiative

Nawell Ainèche, transdisciplinary artist, “Wearable sculpture” movement


Roundtable: Art and well being

Barbara Lau, family dramatherapist, vice president of the national association of dramatherapy, French representative at the European Federation of Dramatherapy

Anne Cazaubon, author, artist, coach

Marie Serruya, plastic artist


Digital Art and social impact

Pierre Fautrel, leader of “Obvious” a collective of artists working with artificial intelligence

Art and joy

Richard Orlinski, artist

Roundtable "Art as a nectar of life"

- Kudsi Erguner, musician
- Alexandra Zimeray, art therapist, Johannesburg
- Yves Dana, sculptor
- Frank Lalou, author, calligrapher
- Bouchra Benyezza, psychotherapist and art therapist, Morocco

Roundtable "The Art Pledge initiative"

- Didier Saulnier, co-founder of The Art Pledge platform
- Gaelle Choisne, artist

Bibliotherapy

- Marie Claude Réau, editorial director of documentaries Bayard youth press
- Céline Mas, co-founder of « Love for Livres » and author

Beauty, tradition and engagement

- Marie Gugliermina, Marketing Manager of Daum, cristal brand

Being aware of what "Art therapy" does really mean?

- Dr. Anne Marie Dubois, scientific manager of the Museum of Art and History of the St Ann hospital in Paris, Center of study and expression


Engage with Art!

- Barbara Borsotto, scarf designer, Daphné brand, Italy
- Laurent Godard, doctor, designer, France

OTHERS EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS: Worldwide Celebrations of World Art Day 2026.

On Wednesday April 15th, 2026; The value of creativity and the richness​ of Jersey's cultural landscape by coinciding a day of artistic and cultural events with UNESCO's World Art Day will be celebrated . The key partners across arts, culture and heritage in Jersey are working together to deliver an Island wide celebration of the arts with support from:Jersey Arts Centre​; The ArtHouse Jersey; The Jersey Opera House; The Ballet d'Jerri​; The Jersey Heritage​; The doors will be open to to Islanders to provide a range of workshops, tours, exhibitions, activities. The celebration is open to everyone. It encourages people of all ages to get involved in art, discover local talent and explore the stories and heritage that shape the Island's identity. The aims of the event is to ​build community connections, to support cultural participation and to showcase the Island's diversity and creativity​​; Learn more about the schedules!

At The Frank Lloyd Wright Building as Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Guggenheim New York is an architectural icon that has inspired countless visitors and is widely seen as Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece.The Museum in New york will organize:

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 2 pm EDT Join the event ''Mind’s Eye: Carol Bove''

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 2 pm EDT; If you're Curious about the Building? 

On Friday, April 17, 2026, 5 pm EDT, will be held the Students Fest: Play.

EXHIBITS:

- Carol Bove From March 5, 2026–August 2, 2026
- Gabriele Münter: Contours of a World From November 7, 2025–April 26, 2026

- Collection in Focus | Robert Rauschenberg: Life Can’t Be Stopped From October 10, 2025–May 3, 2026

- Collection in Focus | Modern European Currents From July 15, 2025–January 10, 2027

- Thannhauser Collection - Ongoing - Vasily Kandinsky - Landscape with Rolling Hills, 1910

The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued six stamps in celebration of World Art Day.

World Chagas Disease Day 2026; April 14th.

FORUM: “Women at the heart: protecting the next generation from Chagas disease” World Chagas Disease Day 2026. This year’s observance underscores the key role women play in family and community caregiving, as well as their greater interaction with health services, particularly during pregnancy. Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is primarily transmitted by triatomine insect vectors, although it can also spread through oral transmission, blood transfusion, and mother-to-child. It may be asymptomatic in its early stages and but can lead to severe cardiac and digestive complications years or even decades later. According to the PAHO data, in the 21 endemic countries of the Americas, approximately 7.5 million people are living with the infection, more than 100 million are at risk, and around 30,000 new cases and 10,000 related deaths are reported each year. The disease also represents a significant economic burden, with an estimated annual cost of $500 million and the loss of approximately 770,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Demographic changes and migration have increased the importance of non-vector transmission, particularly mother-to-child transmission. It is estimated that between 2% and 8% of infected pregnant women transmit the parasite to their babies, resulting in around 9,000 new cases each year through this route. Congenital transmission represents one of today’s main challenges, but also a key opportunity for effective intervention. Strengthening screening in maternal and child health services and ensuring access to diagnosis and treatment are essential to break the cycle of transmission. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #14April, #Healthequity, #WorldChagasDiseaseDay.

EVENT: On Tuesday, April 14th to mark the World Chagas Disease Day 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Global Chagas Coalition called for strengthening the response to this disease and highlighted the role of women in early detection, prevention, and care. To advance toward elimination, PAHO and the Global Chagas Coalition emphasize the importance of expanding access to early diagnosis and timely treatment—especially for women of reproductive age—integrating screening into maternal and child health programs, strengthening primary health care, and promoting sustained public policies and intersectoral coordination. The PAHO, its Member States, and strategic partners such as the Global Chagas Coalition continue to work together to raise awareness and promote a collective response under the principle of leaving no one behind. Congenital Chagas disease is part of PAHO’s Elimination Initiative, which aims to eliminate more than 30 diseases and related conditions in the Region of the Americas by 2030. Within this framework, countries are working to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment, with the goal of curing 90% or more of newborns infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Register to participate!




STATEMENTS: “Eliminating Chagas disease as a public health problem requires placing women at the center of diagnosis, treatment, and care strategies,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director. “Ensuring timely access to quality health services, particularly for women of reproductive age, is essential to prevent new infections and advance toward the elimination of congenital Chagas disease in the Region of the Americas,” he added.

“The role of women in the fight against Chagas must not and should not translate into an additional burden or exclusive responsibility for them,” said organizations from the Secretariat of the Global Chagas Coalition. “On the contrary, it represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen more equitable, accessible, and responsive health systems that recognize and respect women’s needs.”

WEBINARIO: Hoy es 14 de abril, Dia Mundial Chagas, y salimos todas y todos a reafirmar nuestros compromisos por un futuro libre de enfermedad de Chagas. Este año las asociaciones destacan el papel fundamental que desempeñan las mujeres en la lucha contra esta Enfermedad Tropical Desatendida (ETD): "Las mujeres en el centro de la atención: protegiendo a la próxima generación de la enfermedad de Chagas" Por eso hemos querido hablar con algunas de las mujeres más destacadas de la comunidad de Chagas, para que nos cuenten su experiencia a este respecto desde las disciplinas en que contribuyen a la mejoría de las personas afectadas y al objeto final de acabar con la enfermedad de Chagas como problema de salud pública. Además, por cortesía de BeatChagas, estrenamos durante la sesión el nuevo spot de la campaña "Yo visto la camiseta del Día Mundial de la Enfermedad de Chagas 2026" (Ponte La Camiseta), una producción de BeatChagas en Colaboración con la OMS para la celebración del Día Mundial 2026.

International Human Space flight Day 2026; April 12th.

FORUM: "65th anniversary of the First Human Space Flight of Yuri Gagarin." International Human Space flight Day 2026. Today, 65 years later, we celebrate another remarkable milestone: Artemis II has taken humans farther from Earth than ever before. As we mark this anniversary, we are reminded that space exploration continues to inspire innovation, cooperation and discovery across borders. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Gagarin65; #ForeverFirst; #12April, #YuriGargarin, #HumanSpaceFlightDay, #YurisNight, #humanspacefight, #65thanniversary

EVENT: On April 13th, 2026, Date: April 13, 2026 from 12:00 to 13:00 GMT at the "Palais des Nations", a solemn ceremony of laying flowers will be held in the UN Office in Geneva (Ariana Park) at the "Conquest of Space" monument in honor of the 65th anniversary of the First Human Space Flight of Yuri Gagarin. Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ambassador Gennady Gatilov and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva Tatiana Valovaya will open the event with their welcoming speeches. The monument was officially donated to the UN by the USSR Minister of Culture, Yekaterina Furtseva, on July 20, 1971. The participants of the upcoming ceremony will pay a tribute to the feat of Yuri Gagarin, as well as the heroic and selfless work of all those who made the First Human Space Flight possible. Anyone wishing to visit the event (especially those who do not have permanent UN accreditation) must register to participate and activate the badge at the Pregny Gate.

See you at the ceremony!

EXHIBIT: On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen, became the first human to travel into space. This historic achievement opened the door to space exploration for the benefit of all humanity. 

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2026 International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda; April 7th.

Statement of the U.N. Secretary General on the 2026 Commemoration of the International day of reflexion the 1994 Genocide against the Tsutis in Rwanda.

Thirty-two years ago, Rwanda endured one of the darkest chapters in human history. In just 100 days, more than a million people were murdered – primarily Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide. Entire families were brutally erased.


On the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we mourn the victims and honour their stolen dignity. We pay tribute to the survivors, whose resilience shows the strength of the human spirit. And we recall, with humility and shame, the international community’s failure to heed warnings and take immediate lifesaving action.


It’s not enough to remember the dead. We must learn from past failures and protect the living – by rejecting hatred, inflammatory rhetoric and incitement to violence; by investing in the social fabric to deepen community resilience; and by strengthening institutions that help prevent mass atrocities. I call on all countries to become parties to the Genocide Convention without delay – and to implement it fully.

The United Nations stands with the people of Rwanda. And we stand with all those, everywhere, who refuse to surrender our future to fear, division, or silence.


Let this day reaffirm our commitment to remember, to listen, and to act. With history as our guide, and the prevention of genocide as our goal.

U.N. Secretary General.

On April 9th at the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV); Starting at 14:45 PM GMT, The Commemorative ceremony to mark the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Watch the UNOV Celebration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda!

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Meetings & Events

On April 7th, Starting at 09:00 AM GMT; The Director-General of UNON in collaboration with the Rwanda High Commission will be leading to mark the 32nd Anniversary of International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Watch the 32nd Anniversary of The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda!

01:55:29 - Meetings & Events.

On April 7th; Starting at 16:00 PM EST; The Memorial Ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, organized by the Department of Global Communications and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations.

Watch the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda - Annual Commemoration!

On Tuesday, 7 April 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT in the General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters. 2026 marks the 32nd anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, one of the darkest chapters in human history. More than one million people - overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide - were systematically killed in less than three months. On this Day, we honour those who were murdered and reflect on the suffering of those who survived. The Department of Global Communications in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations, will hold a ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Ms. Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications will host the proceedings. Speakers will include the Chef de Cabinet, the President of the General Assembly, a representative of the African Union and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Rwanda. The commemoration will also feature remarks by the President of Ibuka USA, testimony of a genocide survivor, the lighting of memorial candles and musical elements.

Related Sites and Documents: Website & Programme (pdf), 01:25:32 High-level Events

On April 7th, starting at 16:00 PM EST, the United Nations Office at Geneva will commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003. The United Nations Office at Geneva will commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003. 7 April marks the beginning of the genocide perpetrated against members of the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government. Within just over 100 days, more than 1 million Tutsi were systematically murdered. Moderate Hutu and others who opposed the massacres were also killed during this period.

Related Sites and Documents: More Information.

Watch the Kwibuka 32 - Commemoration at the UN in Geneva!

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