International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls2026 · Date · History · Messages
A/RES/80/10
About International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls is observed on 5 September. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed it in 2025 to increase recognition of the rights, voices, knowledge and contributions of Indigenous women and girls.
The resolution connects the observance with participation in decision-making, cultural heritage, biodiversity, environmental protection, climate resilience, Indigenous languages, health and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge.
Why International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls matters
Indigenous women and girls contribute to communities and knowledge systems while also facing intersecting barriers connected to gender, Indigeneity, geography, discrimination and access to services and decision-making.
Responsible observance should therefore center Indigenous women and girls themselves, distinguish among different peoples and communities, and avoid treating Indigenous knowledge or culture as a single undifferentiated tradition.
History of International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) submitted draft resolution A/80/L.11 proposing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls.
On 26 November 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted A/RES/80/10 and proclaimed 5 September of every year as the International Day.
The resolution explicitly notes that 5 September was already commemorated in several countries as the International Day of Indigenous Women, honoring Indigenous women leaders and struggles for Indigenous Peoples’ rights. The UN identifies 5 September 2026 as the first celebration under the new worldwide UN title.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Day of Indigenous Women
The 2025 General Assembly resolution internationalized an existing 5 September commemoration in several countries under the broader title International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls.
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
A/80/L.11 identifies Bolivia (Plurinational State of) as the author of the draft resolution.
United Nations General Assembly
A/RES/80/10
First documented observance
The United Nations states that on 5 September 2026 the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls is celebrated for the first time.
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.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
How to Observe International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls
Read or listen to work produced by Indigenous women’s organizations, writers, researchers, artists or community leaders and keep the specific people and nation or community visible.
Support Indigenous-led initiatives in areas such as language revitalization, maternal health, land and environmental stewardship, education or cultural heritage.
Review whether an event about Indigenous women includes Indigenous women in decision-making and speaking roles rather than only discussing them as subjects.
Learn about the history of the existing 5 September commemoration in a country where it was already observed before the UN proclamation.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls Facts
The International Day is observed on 5 September.
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) submitted draft A/80/L.11.
The General Assembly established the worldwide UN observance through A/RES/80/10 on 26 November 2025.
The resolution says 5 September was already commemorated in several countries as the International Day of Indigenous Women.
The United Nations identifies 5 September 2026 as the first celebration of the newly proclaimed worldwide Day.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls Messages
Wishing everyone observing International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
On International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
May International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
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.
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 Digital Library — A/80/L.11 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/80/10 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — first 5 September 2026 celebration (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)
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 the World's Indigenous Women and Girls?
5 September The documented recurrence rule is: 5 September.
Does International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls 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 of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Bolivia (Plurinational State of).
Is International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls 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.
When is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls?
It is observed every year on 5 September.
Why was 5 September selected?
A/RES/80/10 notes that 5 September was already commemorated in several countries as the International Day of Indigenous Women, honoring Indigenous women leaders who dedicated their lives to resistance and struggles for Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
When is the first UN observance under the new title?
The United Nations identifies 5 September 2026 as the first celebration.
Other observances on September 5
These observances are also listed on September 5, 2027.
International Day of Charity
A/RES/67/105
Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)
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National Be Late for Something Day
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National Grandparents Day
36 U.S.C. §125 requests an annual presidential proclamation for the first Sunday in September after Labor Day; 1978 proclamation and 1979 law history are preserved separately.