April 24 marks the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, the International Day of Youth Solidarity and the Day of Psychology at the United Nations. This day is marked by painful events in history, as well as technical breakthroughs, changes in the geopolitical landscape, and cultural discoveries that have left a noticeable mark on the development of the world.
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
This day aims to emphasize the importance of cooperation between states, organizations and peoples of the world to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and build a stable global order. It is designed to strengthen the commitment of states to the principles of the UN Charter, such as peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law, equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs.
The day was launched by the United Nations General Assembly on December 12, 2018 in resolution A/RES/73/127. The initiative arose in the context of growing global threats: regional conflicts, nuclear proliferation, climate change, cyber security and migration crises, which no country can solve alone. The UN resolution emphasizes that multilateralism is not only a diplomatic approach, but also a practical tool for ensuring security, development and human rights in the world.
In today’s world, multilateralism is the antithesis of isolationism, imperialism, and unilateral actions that often lead to escalation of tensions. Thanks to multilateral institutions such as the UN, the World Trade Organization, the International Criminal Court or UNESCO, states have space for dialogue, dispute settlement, and the development of global strategies in the areas of health, environment, economy, education, etc.
For many countries, in particular for Ukraine, the principles of multilateralism are key in the struggle for national sovereignty, international support, justice and restoration of peace. It is through the mechanisms of multilateral diplomacy that Kyiv consistently appeals to international partners, seeks sanctions against the aggressor, court decisions in international bodies, and humanitarian support.
Interesting facts
Speaking at the first Multilateral Day in 2019, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that multilateralism “is under threat just when it is most needed.”
Despite numerous challenges, the number of international agreements and organizations is constantly growing. As of 2025, there are more than 300 active intergovernmental organizations in the world, including in the fields of health, trade, human rights and security.
The concept of multilateralism was actively formed after the Second World War. It was then that the main institutions of the modern international order appeared — the United Nations (1945), the International Monetary Fund (1944), and the World Bank (1944).
As part of multilateral initiatives, the world agreed on global agreements that changed the course of history: the Paris Climate Agreement (2015), the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968), the Global Compact on Migration (2018).
During 2022–2024, multilateral diplomatic efforts became critical for Ukraine — it was thanks to international coalitions that it was possible to mobilize support, sanctions, weapons, and humanitarian aid.
International Youth Solidarity Day
The celebration of this day does not have an official status in the UN system, but it is an important symbolic act in the history of the struggle of young people for freedom, justice and global unity. This holiday originates from a historical event — the Bandung Conference, which ended on this very day in 1955. That is why the date of April 24 was chosen as a reminder of the strength of solidarity of young generations in the world liberation movements.
The Bandung Conference, held in Indonesia, brought together representatives of 29 Asian and African countries — states that had only recently gained independence or were struggling against colonialism. At the center of this meeting were the ideas of anti-imperialism, non-violence, cooperation, non-adherence to military blocs and solidarity of the peoples of the South. It was in this atmosphere that a new wave of the youth movement was born, which set itself the goal of building a world based on equality, self-respect and the free development of every culture.
In the 1960s and 1970s, left-wing youth organizations and student movements around the world, particularly in Europe, Latin America and Africa, began to use April 24 as a symbolic date for solidarity actions, protests against racism, colonialism, apartheid and military dictatorships. In many countries, the Day of Youth Solidarity became an occasion to remind about the powerful role of young people in shaping social changes — from revolutions in Latin America to anti-war demonstrations in the USA, from student protests in Paris to democratic movements in Central Europe.
Today, the International Day of Youth Solidarity remains relevant in the face of new challenges: climate change, economic inequality, mass migration, war, information manipulation. Young people are once again at the center of global transformations: they organize movements for human rights, gender equality, just environmental policies, digital security and the restoration of democracy.
Interesting facts
The Bandung Conference was the first large-scale meeting of countries that did not belong to any of the blocs during the Cold War. It laid the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement, an organization that later became an important platform for the solidarity of young states.
The conference was attended by figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia) and Zhou Enlai (China), all of whom inspired generations of youth with their speeches on justice, dignity and equality.
Participants of student movements in the 1960s actively fought for real things — free education, the right to work, freedom of expression. In the USA, against the war in Vietnam. In France, against the authoritarian style of teaching. In South Africa, against segregation in schools. In Chile, against the Pinochet regime. Young people often paid with their freedom, and sometimes with their lives.
Young people all over the world have common problems: unemployment, instability, unaffordable housing, disdain for their voice in politics. This is what unites students from Bangladesh, Ukraine, France, and Kenya.
In the 1970s and 1980s, young people united around the struggle against apartheid, militarism, and injustice — through international camps, trips, correspondence, and cultural exchanges. Thousands of young people from different countries spent the night in tents, discussing how to achieve peace, how to teach without propaganda, how to defend children’s rights.
In the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR and Yugoslavia, young people from Eastern Europe organized “solidarity caravans” to help peers from war and conflict zones – Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo. These were youth initiatives that saved other young people. No budget, no politicians.
In the 2000s, international youth solidarity took place through the Internet. It was the youth who were the first to create transnational networks: to support LGBT people, climate strikes, feminist marches, protests against global slavery. They did not wait for permission – they themselves organized actions, translated manifestos, organized digital campaigns.
Ukrainian youth, in particular after the Revolution of Dignity, are increasingly actively involved in international youth solidarity platforms, building new ties with democratic movements in Europe, the United States, and the countries of the Global South.
Psychology Day at the United Nations
Psychology Day at the United Nations is an annual international event held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and non-governmental organizations accredited by the United Nations. The event aims to draw the attention of the world community to the role of psychological science in solving global challenges — from humanitarian crises and conflicts to climate change, education, mental health, ensuring human rights and supporting sustainable development.
This day is not so much a holiday as a platform for professional discussions. Leading academics, psychology experts, representatives of international organizations, governments and civil society gather at the UN headquarters in New York or online to discuss the most pressing topics at the intersection of psychology and global politics. Presentations, panel discussions, and recommendations made during the event are focused on the practical application of psychological knowledge in the field of human rights, gender equality, inclusive education, adaptation to changes, countering violence, terrorism, and manipulation.
A special place in the speeches is usually occupied by the topic of mental health, as a key prerequisite for sustainable development. UN documents increasingly recognize that mental health is not only a medical, but also a political, social, and educational issue that directly affects the well-being of communities, the level of conflict, recovery after disasters, and the overall effectiveness of humanitarian policies.
Interesting facts
Psychology Day at the United Nations was initiated by the American Psychological Association (APA) together with partners from the international psychological community in 2007. Since then, the event has addressed a new global theme every year (for example, in previous years it was migrant rights, the consequences of the pandemic, youth mental health, etc.).
Representatives of more than 50 countries take part in the event every year, and even ministers, heads of UN commissions and well-known human rights defenders join the discussions.
In 2023, the central topic of Psychology Day at the United Nations was the role of psychologists in overcoming the trauma caused by armed conflicts. The focus is on the experience of Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and Ethiopia.
The event occupies a unique place in the UN system, as it is one of the few officially supported events where human science directly shapes the global governance agenda.
Many of the recommendations made during Psychology Day were included in official UN documents, including the resolution on children’s rights, protection of victims of violence and gender equality.
World Immunization Week
This is a global initiative held every year in the last week of April under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose of this week is to draw attention to the importance of immunization as one of the most effective ways to preserve life and health of people on the planet. In 2021, Immunization Week was celebrated from 24 to 30 April, reaching countries on all continents and involving millions of people in awareness campaigns, vaccinations, educational activities and government initiatives.
In the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative has gained special importance. The spread of the coronavirus has disrupted routine immunization programs in many countries, creating additional risks of outbreaks of long-controlled infections. In 2021, World Immunization Week became a call to restore vaccination, strengthen confidence in vaccinations and combat misinformation.
During the campaign, the country carried out mass information events, open consultations with doctors, flash mobs, mobile vaccination points, as well as events aimed at reaching vulnerable groups – children, the elderly, migrants, residents of remote areas. Equal access to vaccines in low-income countries was a special focus of the COVAX initiative, which sought to provide every country with life-saving doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Interesting facts
According to WHO estimates, immunization saves up to 5 million lives annually by preventing diseases that can cause disability or death.
WHO introduced an annual Immunization Week in 2012, but national vaccination days have existed since the 1970s.
In 2021, more than 180 countries joined the campaign, and WHO materials were translated into more than 40 languages. It was in April 2021 that more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines were delivered within the framework of the COVAX global partnership — mostly to countries that could not purchase them on their own.
Historical events on this day
1915 — The Ottoman authorities began a wave of arrests and deportations of representatives of the Armenian elite in Constantinople. This step marked the beginning of the systematic extermination of the Armenian population, which the world later recognized as genocide. Today, April 24, is a day of mourning for millions of Armenians around the world.
1949 — The Taras Shevchenko Literary and Art Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the national poet, was inaugurated in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv.
1949 – On the same day, strict restrictions on the sale of sweets, which had been in place since the Second World War, were abolished in Great Britain, which became a real joy for the population.
1950 — The State of Transjordan changed its official name to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a move that cemented a new geopolitical identity in the Middle East.
1953 — Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for outstanding public service.
1955 — In Baghdad, Iraq and Turkey signed a defense alliance, which will become the basis of the Baghdad Pact. Later, Great Britain, Iran, and Pakistan would join him — trying to counterbalance the influence of the USSR in the region.
1957 — In Beijing, during a state meeting, Mao Zedong expressed doubts about the benefits of excessive reading, which began a harsh campaign against the intelligentsia and traditional education in China.
1965 — In Armenia, for the first time, the Day of Remembrance of Genocide Victims was officially celebrated, which gave an impetus to the international recognition of the tragedy of 1915.
1968 — Mauritius joined the United Nations, expanding the circle of newly independent states formed after the colonial period.
1970 — The People’s Republic of China launched its first artificial satellite “Dong Fang Hong 1” into orbit, officially joining the space club of states.
1970 — On the same day, The Gambia, which gained independence a few years earlier, changed its form of government, becoming a republic.
1975 — The government of Great Britain decided to acquire a controlling stake in the national car manufacturer British Leyland Motors, a step that symbolized the beginning of the state’s economic intervention in the automobile industry.
1981 — The world saw the first personal computer from IBM — a technical innovation that started a revolution in home and corporate computer use.
1984 — In San Francisco, Apple presented its portable computer Apple II. The device weighing 6 kilograms was the first step on the way to mobile technologies.
1985 — The Supreme Court of Canada recognized the legality of trading on Sundays, which meant a change in the traditional rhythm of life of Canadians.
1987 — The US Navy used dolphins as live combat technology for the first time in the Persian Gulf, opening a new page in military experiments with animals.
1997 — Japan’s parliament took a historic step by allowing heart transplants — after long ethical and legal disputes.
1999 — NATO updated its strategic concept, allowing the use of military force to protect human rights even without a direct attack on member states. This was a turning point in international law.
2000 — During the exercises of the Russian army near Cape Tarkhankut, the Ukrainian ship “Pavlo Vereshchagin” was accidentally hit by a missile, which caused diplomatic tension.
2000 — On the same day, Japan experienced an incident at a nuclear facility, which brought the issue of nuclear energy safety back to the fore.
2004 — The USA announced the lifting of sanctions on Libya — for the first time in 18 years. This was a reaction to the agreement of the Libyan government to abandon the development of weapons of mass destruction.
2004 — Vitaliy Klitschko’s triumph in the sports world: the victory over Corry Sanders brought him the title of super heavyweight world champion according to the WBC version.
2005 — Pope Benedict XVI solemnly ascended the Throne of St. Peter, becoming the new spiritual leader of the Catholic Church after the death of John Paul II.
