The United Nations (UNs) International Day of Friendship or Friendship Day is annually observed across the globe on 30th July to honour the friendship.
- In India Friendship Day is celebrated on First Sunday in the month of August.
- In 2022, Friendship day in India will be celebrated on 7th August 2022.
Background:
i.In 2011, in the 65th UN session, the UN General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/65/L.72 and proclaimed 30th July of every year as International Day of Friendship.
- The first International Friendship day was celebrated in 2011.
ii.The day was proclaimed with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
iii.This day is an initiative that follows on the proposal made by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) defining the Culture of Peace as a set of values, attitudes and behaviours that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes with a view to solving problems. The resolution ‘Culture of Peace’ was adopted in 1997.
History:
i.The International Friendship Day was started by Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards in 1930 in Paraguay.
ii.Friendship day was first proposed in 1958 by an international civil organisation – World Friendship Crusade which campaigns to encourage culture of peace by promoting friendship.
iii.World’s Ambassador of Friendship – In 1988, the UN appointed Winnie the Pooh as the Ambassador of Friendship.
