February 11 is celebrated in Ukraine as the Day of Employees of the RASC (RACS), in the world – the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the World Day of the Sick, the European Day of the Emergency Call Service 112 and the Day of Safe Internet.
Also, a number of important historical events took place on this day, which influenced the development of various countries and world processes.
Day of employees of RAGS bodies (RATSS)
This professional holiday was officially established in 2022 in accordance with the decree of the President of Ukraine, which approved the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. The introduction of this day is a recognition of the importance of the work of civil status registration department employees who perform key functions in the field of state registration.
Employees of the RAGS are engaged in registration of the most important events in the life of every citizen: birth, marriage, name change, divorce and death. They also maintain archives, ensure the legal authenticity of documents and promote compliance with legal norms in the field of civil status.
Interesting facts
In Ukraine, the system of state registration of acts of civil status began to take shape in the 19th century.
In modern civil registry offices, you can get not only standard services, but also solemnly register a marriage.
In some countries, in particular in the Scandinavian countries, similar functions are performed by municipal bodies or specially authorized notaries.
Today, the registration of civil status acts is largely digitized: you can apply for marriage or get an extract online through state services.
In many cities of Ukraine, there are “Marriage in a day” and other initiatives that simplify the registration procedure.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
This holiday was established by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to draw attention to gender inequality in the scientific field and to encourage girls and women to build careers in science. Despite women’s significant contributions to science, they still face many obstacles, including stereotypes, lack of funding, and lower visibility in the scientific community.
This day is designed to remind the world about the importance of equal opportunities and support for women in science. Lectures, conferences, discussions and educational events are held in various countries, which inspire young girls to choose scientific professions. Famous scientists share their experiences, and educational institutions talk about the contribution of women to science.
Interesting facts
Marie Curie, the first female Nobel laureate, won the prize for physics in 1903 and for chemistry in 1911.
Women make up only about 30% of the world’s researchers, and their access to research grants and leadership positions is still limited.
Thanks to neurocoder Ada Lovelace, one of the first algorithms for computing machines was created back in the 19th century.
Women’s contributions to science have often been downplayed: the Matilda effect is the phenomenon where women’s discoveries are attributed to their husbands or male colleagues.
Rosalia Franklin made significant contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA, but her work has long been underappreciated.
International Day of the Sick
It is an international social event started by Pope John Paul II in 1992. Its purpose is to draw public attention to people suffering from diseases, as well as to express support for patients and medical professionals.
This day is an important reminder of the need to improve health care, access to treatment and care for those with health problems. In many countries, charity events, conferences, prayer gatherings and other events aimed at raising awareness of the problems of sick people are held.
Interesting facts
The date of February 11 was not chosen by chance – on this day, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, who is considered the patroness of the sick.
In 2005, this day became especially significant due to the serious illness of the founder of the holiday, Pope John Paul II, who died shortly thereafter.
In various countries, on this day, educational campaigns aimed at preventing and treating diseases, as well as supporting palliative care, are held.
One of the main tasks of this day is to honor medical workers who save people’s lives every day.
European day of the emergency call service 112
This holiday was founded in 2009 at the initiative of the European Commission in order to raise awareness among citizens about the single emergency call number 112, which is valid in all countries of the European Union.
Number 112 was introduced in 1991 as the only number for calling emergency services in the EU. It is available for free from mobile and landline phones, even without a SIM card. The main goal of this day is to popularize knowledge about the number 112 and increase the level of trust of citizens in emergency response services.
Interesting facts
Number 112 works in all countries of the European Union, as well as in some other countries of the world, in particular in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
A call to 112 can be made even from a blocked phone or without an operator’s mobile signal.
112 service operators are able to receive calls in several languages, which is especially important for tourists and foreigners.
In some countries, you can send text messages to 112 or use special mobile applications for people with hearing and speech impairments.
Thanks to geolocation technologies, 112 operators can quickly determine the location of the subscriber, even if the subscriber cannot accurately report his address.
Safer Internet Day
This is an international initiative aimed at increasing the level of digital security and user awareness of potential online threats. The day was founded in 2004 with the support of the European Commission and has gradually become a global movement covering more than 170 countries.
The purpose of Safer Internet Day is to involve society, governments, educational institutions, technology companies and parents in the dissemination of knowledge and mechanisms that contribute to the safe use of digital space. Special attention is paid to protecting children from online threats, developing critical thinking about information on the Internet, and ethical behavior in the digital environment.
Interesting facts
The slogan of the initiative changes every year, but is always focused on the responsible use of digital technologies.
According to statistics, every third child in the world is an active user of the Internet, which makes the issue of cyber security particularly relevant.
In many countries, educational activities, trainings and campaigns are held on this day to combat cyberbullying, fraud and leakage of personal data.
International technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, which develop special programs and resources for safe use of the Internet, take part in the events.
One of the key aspects of a safe Internet is media literacy, which helps distinguish authentic information from fakes and manipulations.
Historical events on this day
1809 — American engineer Robert Fulton received a patent for a steamboat, which became an important milestone in the development of water transport. His technology of using steam engines enabled ships to move independently of wind and currents.
1830 — The Little Russian Commission for Sugar Production was created, which contributed to the development of the sugar industry in the territory of modern Ukraine. This was the beginning of the active use of beets for the production of sugar, which became the basis for the formation of the future industry.
1878 — In Great Britain, the first weekly weather forecast was published, which was a breakthrough in meteorology. Thanks to this, a systematic approach to forecasting weather conditions began, which today is critical for many industries.
1889 — In Japan, a new constitution was adopted, which laid the foundations of the country’s modern state administration. It introduced a bicameral parliament, but supreme power remained with the emperor, reflecting a compromise between tradition and modernization.
1894 — In Lviv, the general meeting initiated the creation of the first Ukrainian youth sports association “Sokil”. It played an important role in raising physically active youth and popularizing sports among Ukrainians.
1922 — In Toronto, Canada, the discovery of insulin was officially announced, which became a real salvation for people suffering from diabetes. This discovery radically changed the approach to the treatment of this disease and saved millions of lives.
1945 — In Livadia, Crimea, the Yalta Conference ended, during which the leaders of the USA, Great Britain and the USSR agreed on the main issues of the post-war system. This meeting had a decisive influence on the political system of the world after the Second World War.
1949 — Menorah was approved as the official coat of arms of Israel. This symbol, which has deep religious and historical roots, became one of the key elements of the identity of the newly created state.
1963 — A conference on Ukrainian language culture has started in Kyiv. Its participants demanded that the Ukrainian language be given the status of the state, which became an important step in the struggle for its preservation and development.
1979 — The victory of the Islamic revolution took place in Iran, which led to a change in the political system and the formation of the Islamic Republic. This event fundamentally changed the situation in the region and international relations.
1989 — The founding conference of the Ukrainian Language Society named after Taras Shevchenko, which later became the All-Ukrainian Society “Prosvita”, was held. This society played a significant role in reviving the national consciousness of Ukrainians.
1992 — The Republic of Botswana officially recognized the independence of Ukraine, which was another step in the international recognition of the new state after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
2004 — Ben Hammersley, in his article for The Guardian, first used the term “podcasting”, which gave rise to a new media format that later became extremely popular around the world.
The foundation of the Japanese state
February 11, 660 BC is considered the founding date of the Japanese state. On this day, according to legend, the direct descendant of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami and the second most important deity Kyushu Jimmu (Heavenly Warrior) conquered the land of Yamato and took its throne. He assumed the title of Son of Heaven and founded the imperial dynasty that rules Japan to this day. Dzimmu remained on the throne until April 9, 585 BC. After his death, he was buried in a mausoleum, which became a sacred place for all Japanese.
February 11 is celebrated as the Day of the Foundation of the Japanese State. In the Meiji period, it received the official name “Empire Foundation Day” (紀元節/きげんせつ – Kigensetsu) and became one of the country’s most significant holidays. Throughout history, Japan has waged its wars of conquest based on the policy of Emperor Jimmu, who claimed: “Japan is the country of the gods, invincible – the eight corners of the world under one roof.”
In 1945, after the defeat in World War II, Emperor Hirohito officially renounced the concept of the divinity of Japanese monarchs, and the Kigensetsu celebration was canceled by the American occupation authorities. Only in 1966 was the holiday restored under a new name – “Day of the Foundation of the State” (建国記念の日 – Kenkoku Kinen-no Hi).
Every year on February 11, the anniversary of the founding of the empire, a special imperial envoy comes to the tomb of Emperor Dzimmu to pay his respects to the founder of the state. The current Emperor Naruhito is considered the 126th member of the world’s oldest ruling dynasty and is the only current monarch with the imperial title.
In Japanese tradition, the emperor has three sacred objects, received from the gods, which facilitate the rule and embody the main qualities of the ruler: a bronze mirror is a symbol of wisdom, a necklace of precious stones is a symbol of prosperity, and a sword is a symbol of courage.
The birthday of one of the main election technologies
February 11, 1812 can be considered the birthday of one of the main election technologies still in use. Its goal is to ensure the maximum representation of “its” deputies in the parliament.
It all started with Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry, who signed an executive order to redistribute electoral districts. The basic idea was that in the constituencies created, the proportion of voters who support a certain party would be more favorable to it. Thus, victory in the elections became guaranteed.
At the same time, no law was violated, although the boundaries of the districts on the map took on rather strange shapes. Since then, the term “gerrymandering” has become a commonly accepted political concept.
Subsequently, the document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, better known as the “Copenhagen Document”, adopted in 1990 and recognized as one of the main international documents on democratic elections in the OSCE participating States, established the principles of fair distribution of constituencies. In particular, point 3.2 states that electoral districts must ensure equality of electoral rights by creating an approximately equal ratio of voters to elected representatives in each district. At the same time, administrative division, historical, demographic and geographical factors are taken into account, if they do not violate the principles of equal voting and fair representation of social groups.
Paragraph 3.3 emphasizes that the review of electoral districts must take place according to a schedule clearly established by law, be based on reliable data from the population census or voter registration, and also be carried out long before the elections. This process should be transparent, informed and involve the public in the discussion.
Thus, although gerrymandering remains a tool of political manipulation, international standards try to limit its influence and ensure the democratic nature of the electoral process.
