International Years are designated by the United Nations General Assembly in order to draw attention to particular issues of international importance.

The UN declares and coordinates "International Year of the..." in order to focus world attention on important issues. Using the symbolism of the UN, a specially designed logo for the year, and the infrastructure of the UN system to coordinate events worldwide, the various years have become catalysts to advancing key issues on a global scale.

Typically the lead agency for a particular International Year presents a written report during the following year. This summarizes the activities that took place around the world under the auspices of the International Year, and makes recommendations for the future.

• 2006: International Year of Deserts and Desertification
• 2005: International Year for Sport and Physical Education
• 2005: International Year of Microcredit [1]
• 2004: International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition [2]
• 2004: International Year of Rice [3]
• 2003: International Year of Freshwater [4]
• 2002: International Year of Ecotourism [5]
• 2002: International Year of Mountains [6]
• 2002: United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage [7]
• 2001: International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
• 2001: United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations
• 2001: International Year of Volunteers
• 2000: International Year of Thanksgiving
• 2000: International Year for the Culture of Peace
• 1999: International Year of Older Persons
• 1998: International Year of the Ocean
• 1996: International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
• 1995: World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of Victims of the Second World War
• 1995: United Nations Year for Tolerance
• 1994: International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
• 1994: International Year of the Family
• 1993: International Year of the World's Indigenous People
• 1992: International Space Year
• 1990: International Literacy Year
• 1987: International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
• 1986: International Year of Peace
• 1985: Year of the United Nations
• 1985: International Youth Year
• 1984: Year of Women in South Africa [8]
• 1983: World Communications Year
• 1982: International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa
• 1981: International Year for Disabled Persons
• 1979: International Year of the Child
• 1978/1979: International Anti-Apartheid Year
• 1975: International Women's Year
• 1974: World Population Year
• 1971: International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
• 1970: International Education Year
• 1968: International Year for Human Rights
• 1967: International Tourist Year
• 1965: International Cooperation Year
• 1961: International Health and Medical Research Year
• 1959/1960: World Refugee Year

See Also

• United Nations International Days and Weeks
• United Nations International Decades