International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/78/323
About International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent
The International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent is observed on 25 July. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed it in 2024 to recognize contributions and to draw attention to intersecting racial and gender discrimination.
The observance sits within broader UN work on racism, gender equality, human rights and people of African descent. Coverage should avoid treating women and girls of African descent as a single homogeneous population.
Why International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent matters
The Day highlights both contribution and inequality. Its UN framing points to the effects of racism and gender discrimination in areas such as health, education, economic opportunity, safety, representation and public decision-making.
Useful material should be specific about country and context, because experiences, terminology, data quality and legal frameworks vary widely across regions.
History of International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent
Brazil and Colombia submitted draft resolution A/78/L.96, supported by a broad group of additional sponsors.
On 13 August 2024, the General Assembly adopted the text as A/RES/78/323 and proclaimed 25 July as the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.
UN News described 25 July 2025 as the first observance of the International Day.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Brazil and Colombia
The UN Digital Library identifies Brazil and Colombia as the named authors of draft resolution A/78/L.96, with many additional sponsors.
United Nations General Assembly
A/RES/78/323
First documented observance
UN News described 25 July 2025 as the first observance following the 2024 General Assembly proclamation.
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.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent
Use disaggregated, well-sourced data when discussing health, education, employment or representation and state clearly what geography and population the data covers.
Highlight the work and leadership of women and girls of African descent rather than framing the observance only around disadvantage.
Examine how racial and gender discrimination can overlap without assuming identical experiences in every country.
Support credible organizations led by or accountable to the communities whose experiences are being discussed.
International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent Facts
The documented calendar date for International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent is 25 July.
Brazil and Colombia were the named authors of draft A/78/L.96.
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/78/323 on 13 August 2024.
The first official observance took place on 25 July 2025.
The reviewed institutional sources establish the date but do not provide a sufficiently explicit historical explanation for selecting exactly 25 July.
International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent Messages
May International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
Wishing everyone observing International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
On International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent Quotes
“Health equity is not only a public health imperative. It is a matter of human rights, dignity and social justice.”
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/RES/78/323 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — draft A/78/L.96 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Office at Geneva / UN News — first observance, 25 July 2025 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent (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 Women and Girls of African Descent?
25 July The documented recurrence rule is: 25 July.
Does International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent 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 Women and Girls of African Descent?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Brazil and Colombia.
Is International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent 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 Women and Girls of African Descent?
It is observed every year on 25 July.
When did the UN establish it?
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/78/323 on 13 August 2024.
When was the first official observance?
UN News identified 25 July 2025 as the first observance following the 2024 proclamation.
Other observances on July 25
These observances are also listed on July 25, 2027.
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Día de la Constitución (Day of the Constitution)
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Fiestas Patronales de Santiago — Somoto
Nicaragua’s official National Tourism Map describes Somoto’s patronal celebrations honoring Santiago around 25 July and notes an extended festival period.
International Day for Judicial Well-being
A/RES/79/266