Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/59/26
About Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War
The Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War is observed on 8 and 9 May. The United Nations invites people and institutions to observe either one or both days in memory of all victims of the Second World War.
The observance is deliberately broad. It recognizes that Member States may maintain their own days of victory, liberation and commemoration while providing an international time for remembrance and reconciliation.
Why Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War matters
The purpose is not to collapse different wartime experiences into one national narrative. It creates a shared international frame for remembering loss while acknowledging that countries and communities have distinct histories of occupation, resistance, liberation, military service and civilian suffering.
A strong observance keeps remembrance connected to the post-war international order: the General Assembly resolution explicitly links the end of the war with the conditions that led to the creation of the United Nations and its peace-and-security mandate.
History of Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War
On 22 November 2004, the United Nations General Assembly adopted A/RES/59/26 on the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The resolution declared 8 and 9 May a time of remembrance and reconciliation and invited Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe annually either one or both days.
The resolution also called for a special solemn General Assembly meeting in May 2005 to commemorate all victims of the war and emphasized that the end of the conflict created the conditions for the establishment of the United Nations.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Cross-regional sponsors of draft A/59/L.28/Rev.2
The United Nations Digital Library identifies Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, Chile, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yemen as authors of the revised draft that led to A/RES/59/26.
United Nations General Assembly
A/RES/59/26
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
Also known as
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost their Lives during WWII
How to Observe Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War
Use a museum, archive, oral-history project or national memorial source to learn how the war affected civilians as well as combatants.
Compare how different countries mark victory, liberation, surrender or remembrance and explain why their national commemorative dates may differ from the UN’s 8–9 May framework.
Document one local wartime story with source attribution, avoiding unverified family anecdotes when presenting historical claims as fact.
Connect remembrance with the founding purposes of the United Nations by reading the Charter preamble and discussing why the post-war generation emphasized collective security and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War Facts
The UN Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation is observed on 8 and 9 May.
The General Assembly established the annual observance through A/RES/59/26.
A/RES/59/26 was adopted on 22 November 2004.
The resolution allows Member States to retain their own victory, liberation and commemoration days.
The reviewed sources do not explicitly label a first annual observance date, so that provenance field remains unresolved.
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War Messages
May Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War be marked with reflection, respect and a renewed commitment to protect human dignity.
Remembering on Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War means listening carefully, resisting distortion and carrying the lessons of history forward.
On Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War, may memory lead to responsibility, empathy and thoughtful action.
May this Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War honour those at its heart through sincere remembrance rather than empty words.
On Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War, we remember with dignity and make space for the people, families and communities whose experiences must not be forgotten.
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War Quotes
“We must never forget the Holocaust and the other grave and horrendous crimes committed by the Nazis.”
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 Digital Library — A/59/L.28/Rev.2 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/59/26 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation (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 Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War?
8 May The documented recurrence rule is: 8 May.
Does Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War 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 Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Cross-regional sponsors of draft A/59/L.28/Rev.2.
Is Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War 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 UN Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Second World War victims?
The United Nations designates 8 and 9 May, and invites observance of either one or both days.
When did the United Nations establish the observance?
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/59/26 on 22 November 2004.
Does the UN observance replace national victory or liberation days?
No. The establishing resolution explicitly recognizes that Member States may have their own days of victory, liberation and commemoration.
Other observances on May 8
These observances are also listed on May 8, 2027.
International CdLS Awareness Day
The CdLS Foundation says International CdLS Awareness Day is observed on the second Saturday in May each year and lists the 2026 edition for 9 May.
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive
NALC states that its annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive launched in 1993 and is held on the second Saturday in May. NALC also states that branch, rural-office and individu…
National Dog Mom’s Day
Current pet calendars consistently place National Dog Mom’s Day on the second Saturday in May; the observance is traced to a 2018 launch associated with Dig.
National Report Government Contractor Fraud Day
The Hesch Firm-issued May 2018 founder release states the observance is celebrated May 8 and says Joel D. Hesch formed it in 2018. DOJ material is retained only for current False Claims Act…
National Student Nurses Day
The American Nurses Association states that its Board, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designated May 8 in 1997 and that the day was celebrated annually as of 199…
No Socks Day
The first-party Wellcat Holidays calendar lists No Socks Day on May 8 and identifies the holiday collection as created by Thomas and Ruth Roy.