Top 9 Noteworthy Events in June You Should be Aware of

International Children's Day (June 1) (also known as Children's Festival in Vietnam) is a day dedicated to children, the future generation of humanity. It serves as a reminder for everyone to protect and care for children better. In August 1925, the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, declared June 1 as International Children's Day.

Why June 1 was chosen is not definitively explained. One hypothesis suggests that the Chinese Consul General in San Francisco (USA) gathered some Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on June 1, 1925, coinciding with the conference in Geneva. This date was later adopted by the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and their allies.

After World War II, the establishment of an annual International Children's Day was proposed in December 1948 in a resolution of the Second World Congress of the Women's International Democratic Federation held in Budapest. It was officially decided at the Council meeting of this Federation in November 1949 in Moscow, and June 1 was established as Children's Day. This idea was also accepted by the World Federation of Democratic Youth oriented towards socialism in January 1950. The first International Children's Day was organized in the same year on June 1, 1950, and later spread to many countries under socialist influence, then known as the 'day of struggle for the future happiness and peace for all children.'

The holiday is celebrated on June 1 every year, marked by speeches on children's rights and welfare, children's TV programs, parties, various activities related to or specifically for children, outdoor family gatherings, etc.

Approximately 30 countries have organized International Children's Day, including: the former Soviet Union and its bloc countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Albania, Poland, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Germany (after the reunification, some countries chose different dates), and Angola, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Laos, Macedonia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Democratic Yemen, People's Republic of China, Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

National Day of Sweden (Swedish: Sveriges nationaldag) is an annual national holiday celebrated in Sweden on June 6. Before 1983, it was celebrated as the National Flag Day of Sweden (Swedish: Svenska flaggans dag). At that time, the day was renamed the National Day of Sweden by the Riksdag.

The tradition of commemorating this day began in 1916 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, honoring the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523, considered the foundation of modern Sweden. Some question the validity of considering this a national holiday, as it was not recognized as such for many decades. However, the event marks the end of the Kalmar Union's rule by Denmark, so in a sense, it signifies Sweden's independence. Although the event happened long ago, it lacks a strong presence in social consciousness, similar to Norway's Constitution Day, Syttende Mai.

In 2005, it became an official holiday in Sweden, replacing Whit Monday. This change resulted in fewer days off (more working days) because June 6 regularly falls on the weekend, unlike Whit Monday, always observed on a Monday. Among the newer traditions that have emerged since the National Day switched to red is an invitation from the King for the public to visit large areas of the Stockholm Palace all day without regular entrance fees.

World Environment Day (abbreviated as WED) is an event chosen by the United Nations General Assembly to be celebrated on June 5 every year. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) based in Nairobi, Kenya is responsible for organizing this event.

On June 5, 1972, during the opening of the first World Environmental Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden, World Environment Day was officially announced by the United Nations Environment Programme. In the meeting on December 15, 1972, the United Nations General Assembly made a formal resolution. Since then, more than 150 countries worldwide have participated in commemorating this day. Activities in response are often organized during the week around June 5 each year.

Themes in recent years:

• 2019: Air Pollution
• 2018: Beat Plastic Pollution
• 2017: Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator
• 2016: Fight against the illegal trade in wildlife
• ...

World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL), observed on June 12, is a day designated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002 and recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness and take action to prevent child labor.

In recent years, with noticeable economic disparities, significant social changes have adversely affected the lives of people, especially children. The prevalence of child labor worldwide forces many children to drop out of school, suffer injuries from accidents during labor, or endure physical and mental harm, including physical abuse and sexual exploitation. In Vietnam, many children engage in labor at a young age to supplement family income, taking on tasks such as selling lottery tickets, collecting recyclables, or street performing...

World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 is not just a commemorative day but also an opportunity for substantial change. We need a more accurate and understanding perspective on children's rights, taking small steps each day to secure a better future for the younger generation, ending the suffering and injustice child laborers endure. As the Vietnamese saying goes, 'Children today, the world tomorrow,' so let's take action starting today.

Ocean pollution, specifically, and marine pollution in general, are urgent global issues. With the Earth's warming, melting ice caps at both poles have caused repercussions for both the present and the future. Therefore, World Oceans Day on June 8 is a day for humanity to reflect on what has been and is being done to its seas and oceans, seeking sustainable solutions for restoration and future development.

Proposed in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and later officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, this international day is coordinated and organized by global organizations such as the Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network, with the participation of many countries worldwide, including Vietnam.

World Oceans Day aims to raise awareness among people and policymakers about the importance of the sea and oceans. On the other hand, it is a day for people worldwide to express gratitude and honor what the oceans have provided to human life.

The United Nations Day - Public Service is celebrated annually on June 23. The United Nations Public Service Awards' prestige is bestowed on this day. The United Nations Public Service Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly's resolution A/RES/57/277 of 2003, to 'celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community.'

The United Nations Economic and Social Council established that the United Nations Public Service Awards are given on Public Service Day for contributions to the cause of enhancing the role, prestige, and visibility of public services.

Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21) commemorates the establishment of the newspaper 'Thanh Nien' founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc on June 21, 1925. In the history of Vietnamese journalism, newspapers like 'Gia Dinh Bao' were already present in the 19th century, along with others emerging in Saigon, Hanoi, and various other localities.

However, 'Thanh Nien' introduced a new era of journalism: the revolutionary press of Vietnam. With the advent of 'Thanh Nien,' Vietnamese journalism proudly raised the banner of the revolution, expressing the will and aspirations of the Vietnamese people, outlining the direction of the people's struggle for independence, freedom, and socialism. Recognizing this significance, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam issued Decision No. 52 on February 5, 1985, designating June 21 annually as Vietnam Press Day, aiming to enhance the role and social responsibility of the press, tighten the relationship between the press and the public, and strengthen the Party's leadership over the press.

On June 21, 2000, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Vietnam Press Day, at the suggestion of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam agreed to rename Vietnam Press Day as Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day.

Similar to hardworking mothers nurturing their children, fathers also play a significant role in the journey to ensure each child grows up to be a valuable member of the family and society. Unlike women honored on March 8th or Mother's Day, fathers have only one day, the third Sunday of June, to be celebrated.

Father's Day is a day dedicated to honoring fatherhood, family bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries in Europe, it used to be celebrated on March 19 (Saint Joseph's Day) since the Middle Ages. This tradition was brought to Latin America by the Spanish and Portuguese, where March 19 is still commonly used, although many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the U.S. date, the third Sunday of June.

The celebration takes place on different dates in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, April, and June according to each country's customs. In Vietnam, Father's Day has not officially become a nationwide celebration, but many young people enthusiastically embrace it. Some choose to take a day off to visit their families, cook a meal, or express their wishes and gratitude through a heartfelt call. For those living far away, sending meaningful gifts is a thoughtful gesture to honor their fathers.

Vietnam Family Day is a day to honor Vietnamese families. It's a day for family members to care for each other, for society to pay attention to children and those without parents. Couples are encouraged to understand the value of a warm and equal family, overcoming challenges together for a happy family. Since 2001, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem signed Decision 72/2001/QD-TTG, designating June 28th as Vietnam Family Day annually.

Family is the cornerstone of every individual, the cell of society, where lineage is maintained, and important values are instilled and nurtured. Families play a crucial role in shaping and developing human personalities, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values cherished by the nation, resisting social ills, and providing human resources to serve the nation's construction and defense. Every nation, every people, to exist and develop, must consider the family as the root, taking care of and protecting it.

Throughout generations, Vietnamese families have been formed and developed with high standards of beautiful values contributing to building the cultural identity of the nation. Precious traditional values such as love for the homeland, the nation, mutual love and care, loyalty, filial piety, diligence, creativity in labor, resilience, and determination to overcome difficulties have been preserved, nurtured, and promoted by Vietnamese families throughout the history of nation-building and preservation. Although the structure and relationships within Vietnamese families have changed over different periods of development, the fundamental function of the family still exists, and the family remains an indispensable factor in the socio-economic development of the country.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always cared about the role of the family. He affirmed: “Caring for the family is right because many families together form society. A good family makes a good society, and a good society makes the family even better. The nucleus of society is the family.” According to him: “A new, good family is a family where members must love and respect each other, share difficulties in work together, and uphold equality between men and women. Women must be highly valued and respected.”

Given its utmost significance, on May 4, 2001, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 72/2001/QD-TTg on Vietnam Family Day. The decision clearly states that June 28th each year is Vietnam Family Day. It's a day to honor the traditional values of the family, for family members to care for each other, focus on the family, and for society to care about children, and couples to deeply understand the value of a warm, equal, progressive, and happy family.