International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/80/106
About International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations
The International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations is observed on 14 December. The United Nations General Assembly established it in 2025 within the UN decolonization framework.
The subject involves history, self-determination, international law and continuing political disputes. A responsible guide should distinguish the General Assembly resolution’s institutional position from independent legal conclusions about particular territories or claims.
Why International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations matters
The observance is tied to the UN’s long-running decolonization mandate and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Educational use should explain the historical record and relevant UN mechanisms while avoiding collective blame, oversimplified territorial claims or the assumption that every contemporary dispute has the same legal status.
History of International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations
A Fourth Committee draft sponsored by a group of Member States and the State of Palestine advanced the proposal during the General Assembly’s eightieth session.
On 5 December 2025, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/80/106 and proclaimed 14 December as the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, to be observed annually beginning in 2025.
The date directly reflects 14 December 1960, when the General Assembly adopted resolution 1514 (XV), the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. A high-level plenary meeting on 18 December 2025 formed part of activities marking the new Day for the first time.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
The sponsors of Fourth Committee draft A/C.4/80/L.5
UN Fourth Committee records identify the multinational sponsor group behind the draft that became A/RES/80/106.
United Nations General Assembly
A/RES/80/106
First documented observance
The resolution explicitly says the Day is to be observed annually beginning in 2025; it also designated a high-level plenary on 18 December 2025 as part of activities marking the Day for the first time.
United Nations Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly
A/RES/80/106 requests the Secretary-General to arrange UN commemoration and promotion and invites the President of the General Assembly to organize recurring plenary observance meetings.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations
Read resolution 1514 (XV) alongside the 2025 establishing resolution before summarizing the UN framework.
Use UN decolonization records to distinguish Non-Self-Governing Territories from other territorial or political disputes.
When discussing historical colonialism, identify the relevant place, period, governing power and source instead of generalizing across centuries and regions.
Include affected peoples’ histories and contemporary institutions without assigning collective responsibility to present-day populations.
International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations Facts
The Day is observed on 14 December.
A/RES/80/106 was adopted on 5 December 2025.
The resolution says the observance begins in 2025.
14 December marks the anniversary of the General Assembly’s adoption of resolution 1514 (XV) in 1960.
The 2025 resolution assigns recurring UN commemoration and promotion responsibilities.
International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations Messages
International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations is a reminder that civic life is strongest when people listen, learn and take part with care.
May International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations encourage thoughtful participation, respect for others and attention to the institutions that shape everyday life.
Marking International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations can begin with one useful step: learn the issue, hear different perspectives and take part constructively.
Wishing everyone observing International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations a day of informed reflection, respectful conversation and meaningful participation.
On International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations, may informed participation, respectful dialogue and public responsibility strengthen the communities we share.
International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations Quotes
“Colonialism must end – fully and without delay.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations and Decolonization — Fourth Committee 80th session (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/80/106 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day Against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
United Nations and Decolonization — General Assembly resolutions and decisions (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations?
14 December The documented recurrence rule is: 14 December.
Does International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as The sponsors of Fourth Committee draft A/C.4/80/L.5. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as United Nations Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly.
Is International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is the Day on 14 December?
14 December is the anniversary of the General Assembly’s 1960 adoption of resolution 1514 (XV), the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
When was the new International Day established?
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/80/106 on 5 December 2025 and specified annual observance beginning in 2025.
Does the Day determine the legal status of every territorial dispute?
No. The observance belongs to the UN decolonization framework; the legal and political status of particular situations must be assessed from their specific instruments and facts.
Other observances on December 14
These observances are also listed on December 14, 2026.
Martyred Intellectuals Day
Bangladesh government rules list Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 among national days connected with the Liberation War.
National Alabama Day
National Day Calendar lists National Alabama Day on 14 December as part of its creator-defined National State Days series, introduced in 2017 to honor states in the order they joined the Un…
National Energy Conservation Day
India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency states that December 14 was declared National Energy Conservation Day and that the annual awards function is organized on December 14 each year.