International Day of Action for Women’s Health2026 · Date · History · Messages
May 28 campaign history states that LACWHN proposed annual May 28 commemoration in 1987 in Costa Rica and WGNRR was asked to lead the campaign globally.
About International Day of Action for Women’s Health
International Day of Action for Women’s Health is observed on 28 May each year. The May 28 campaign history says the date was proposed in 1987 during the International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica.
The campaign focuses on women’s health and sexual and reproductive health and rights. This page provides general historical and awareness information, not personal medical advice.
Why International Day of Action for Women’s Health matters
The campaign was designed as a recurring day for organizations and communities to discuss women’s health needs, access to care and health rights.
Health needs and laws differ across countries. Personal symptoms, treatment, contraception or pregnancy-care decisions should be discussed with qualified health professionals and appropriate local services.
History of International Day of Action for Women’s Health
In 1987, the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network proposed commemorating 28 May annually during the International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica.
The Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights was asked to spearhead the campaign globally, while LACWHN led regional coordination.
WGNRR and the May 28 campaign continue to organize and publish material for the annual observance.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network (LACWHN)
The May 28 campaign history states that LACWHN proposed celebrating May 28 annually during the 1987 International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica.
Women’s health movement participants at the 1987 International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica
The campaign history describes the proposal and agreement within the 1987 meeting context rather than a governmental proclamation.
Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), with May 28 campaign partners
The campaign history says WGNRR was asked to spearhead the campaign globally, and current WGNRR/May28 materials continue the observance.
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.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
International Day of Action on Women’s Health
How to Observe International Day of Action for Women’s Health
Read current women’s-health information from a public-health agency or qualified medical organization.
Learn how access to sexual and reproductive health services is structured in your jurisdiction.
Support organizations that publish clear safeguarding, evidence and referral standards.
Share health information with source links and avoid diagnosing other people from symptoms.
For personal concerns, use qualified medical care or trusted local health services rather than awareness-day content.
International Day of Action for Women’s Health Facts
The observance is held annually on 28 May.
The May 28 campaign traces the annual proposal to the 1987 International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica.
LACWHN proposed the annual date and WGNRR was asked to coordinate the campaign globally.
The campaign centers women’s health and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Awareness material is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment or individualized medical advice.
The reviewed sources describe a civil-society health-rights campaign rather than a universal statutory public holiday.
International Day of Action for Women’s Health Messages
International Day of Action for Women’s Health is a time to support accurate information, respectful care and informed health decisions.
Marking 28 May with attention to women’s health, dignity and access to reliable care.
May today encourage evidence-based health information and respectful conversations about women’s health.
Wishing everyone working for safe, respectful and evidence-based health care a constructive 28 May.
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.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
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.
May 28 campaign — The Story of May 28 (opens in a new tab)
First Party Campaign History
WGNRR — May 28 International Day of Action for Women’s Health (opens in a new tab)
Organizer Current History
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 of Action for Women’s Health?
28 May annually; 2026 campaign on 28 May The documented recurrence rule is: 28 May.
Does International Day of Action for Women’s Health fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Action for Women’s Health an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: international women’s health and health-rights campaign. 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 of Action for Women’s Health?
The reviewed sources identify Women’s health movement participants at the 1987 International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network (LACWHN). Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), with May 28 campaign partners.
Is International Day of Action for Women’s Health international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: international women’s health and health-rights campaign. 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 2026-10-02.
When is International Day of Action for Women’s Health?
It is observed every year on 28 May.
Where did the campaign begin?
The May 28 campaign history traces the annual proposal to the 1987 International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica.
Who coordinates the campaign?
The history says LACWHN proposed the date and WGNRR was asked to spearhead the campaign globally.
Is this page medical advice?
No. It provides general historical and awareness information; personal health decisions should be discussed with qualified professionals or appropriate local services.
Other observances on May 28
These observances are also listed on May 28, 2027.
Bermuda Day
Government of Bermuda currently lists Bermuda Day as a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act 1947 framework, uses the fourth Friday in May, and states that the first Bermuda Day Para…
European Neighbours’ Day
European institutional and city-project sources describe European Neighbours’ Day as an annual event held on the last Friday of May, originating in Paris in 1999.
Independence Day
Azerbaijan’s 2021 law names 28 May Independence Day, commemorating the 1918 declaration by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic; the presidential holiday register uses the current Independenc…
National Day
Official Ethiopian sources identify May 28 as a national day/national holiday associated with the 1991 downfall of the Derg military government. The Ethiopian Investment Commission currentl…
National Flag Day / National Flag Days
Philippine law declares May 28 through June 12 each year as Flag Days; Proclamation No. 374 (1965) established May 28 as Flag Day to commemorate the first unfurling of the Philippine flag a…
National Hamburger Day
Wendy’s and BurgerFi first-party materials identify May 28 as National Hamburger Day in separate years.