The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Friendship is annually observed across the globe on 30th July to highlight the role of Friendship between people, countries, cultures and individuals towards peace efforts.
The day is also known as ‘Friendship day’
Friendship day in India:
India celebrated Friendship Day on the first Sunday of the month of August.
India’s Friendship Day 2021 was celebrated on 1st August 2021.
World’s Ambassador of Friendship:
On 5 August 1997, Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, named ‘Winnie the Pooh’, a cartoon character, as the world’s ambassador of Friendship at the UN.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), adopted the resolution A/65/L.72 in 2011 and proclaimed the 30th July of every year as the International Day of Friendship.
ii.The first UN’s International Day of Friendship was observed on 30th July 2011.
- The International Day of Friendship is an initiative following the proposal of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) defining the Culture of Peace as a set of values that rejects violence and the efforts to prevent conflicts by addressing the root causes.
- This was later adopted by the UNGA in 1997.
History of Friendship day:
i.Friendship Day was created in 1930 by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards. The day has been intended to be celebrated on 2nd August.
ii.The day was first proposed on 30th July 1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organisation that campaigns to foster peaceful culture through friendship.
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation:
i.Friendship Ambassadors Foundation(FAF), founded by Harry Morgan and Cappy Devlin to promote intercultural dialogue among the youths in 1958.
ii.To increase youth engagement and participation in global development FAF created the Youth Assembly in 2004.
iii.The next youth assembly will be organised in 2022.
