International Day to Combat Islamophobia
A/RES/76/254
A/RES/76/254
This authority record treats the observance as a fixed annual date. The same month and day can be reused unless a stronger source changes the rule. Public-holiday or government status is never inferred from the observance name alone.
Overview
International Day to Combat Islamophobia is observed on 15 March. The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in 2022 to promote dialogue, tolerance, peace, human rights and respect for religious diversity while drawing attention to discrimination, hostility and violence directed at Muslims.
UN materials emphasize that terrorism and violent extremism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
Why it matters
The day focuses on anti-Muslim hatred, negative stereotyping, discrimination and violence while placing that work within the broader principles of freedom of religion or belief, equality and human dignity.
Responsible observance should oppose both anti-Muslim bigotry and other forms of religious hatred, avoid collective blame, and distinguish criticism of ideas or institutions from hostility toward people because of their identity or beliefs.
History
Following the 15 March 2019 terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation called for 15 March to be designated internationally as a day to combat Islamophobia.
On 15 March 2022, Pakistan introduced a draft on behalf of the OIC group and the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/76/254, designating 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
The United Nations held the first commemoration in March 2023. On 15 March 2024, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/78/264 on measures to combat Islamophobia, adding a later institutional action without replacing the 2022 establishing resolution.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
The 2022 General Assembly meeting record shows Pakistan introducing the draft on behalf of the OIC group; UN background material says the resolution was sponsored by OIC Member States.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/76/254
First documented observance
UN reporting describes the March 2023 commemoration as the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
Adopted additional measures to combat Islamophobia, including further institutional follow-up, without replacing the 2022 resolution that established the annual Day.
United Nations General Assembly · A/RES/78/264
What the evidence establishes
Verified institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Fields that the reviewed sources do not establish remain fail-closed and are available below without competing with the confirmed record.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Ways to observe
Use human-rights resources to learn how freedom of religion or belief and non-discrimination apply to people of all faiths and beliefs.
Challenge anti-Muslim stereotypes with verified information and avoid repeating hateful claims merely for attention.
Include discussion of how antisemitism, anti-Christian hatred and other religious intolerance can intersect with broader patterns of discrimination.
If moderating an event or online discussion, set clear rules against dehumanization, collective blame and incitement to violence.
Useful facts
The International Day is observed on 15 March.
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/254 on 15 March 2022.
Pakistan introduced the establishing draft on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The first UN commemoration took place in March 2023.
A/RES/78/264, adopted on 15 March 2024, is a later resolution on measures to combat Islamophobia rather than the original establishing act.
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
Repeated links from the authority record, institutional provenance and editorial guide research are consolidated here. Badges show how each source is used; a contextual source is never treated as proof of establishment on its own.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/78/264 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — A/RES/76/254 adoption (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day to Combat Islamophobia (opens in a new tab)
United Nations in Türkiye — first International Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Web TV — General Assembly 61st plenary meeting, 76th session (opens in a new tab)
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then use reviewed distinctions and related authority records to understand where this observance fits.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day to Combat Islamophobia?
15 March The stored recurrence guidance is: 15 March.
Does International Day to Combat Islamophobia fall on the same date every year?
The authority record classifies it as fixed annual, so its month and day are reusable unless stronger evidence changes the rule.
Is International Day to Combat Islamophobia an official public holiday?
The authority record verifies 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 the supporting authority record explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day to Combat Islamophobia?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Is International Day to Combat Islamophobia international or country-specific?
The record has international or global institutional scope: 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 layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-05.
When did the UN establish the International Day to Combat Islamophobia?
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/254 on 15 March 2022, designating 15 March as the annual International Day.
Why is it observed on 15 March?
The proposal followed the terrorist attacks on two Christchurch mosques on 15 March 2019 and the OIC’s subsequent call to use that date for an international day against Islamophobia.
Was there later UN action?
Yes. On 15 March 2024 the General Assembly adopted A/RES/78/264 on measures to combat Islamophobia. It is later institutional follow-up, not the original establishing resolution.
Other observances on March 15
These records also resolve to March 15, 2027 under the current authority data.
15 March National Holiday — 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence
Hungary’s constitutional framework identifies 15 March as a national holiday commemorating the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence.
Benito Juárez birth-anniversary observance / statutory March holiday
Mexico’s Diario Oficial de la Federación identifies 16 March 2026 as the third Monday in March observed in commemoration of Benito Juárez’s birth anniversary under the Federal Labor Law.
Constitution Day of the Republic of Belarus
The official President of Belarus national-holidays register lists Constitution Day on 15 March, and the presidential constitution page states that the Constitution was adopted on 15 March…
Hungary’s national holidays
Hungary’s Fundamental Law identifies 15 March, 20 August and 23 October as national holidays and states that 20 August is the official state holiday.
Hōnen Matsuri
Japan National Tourism Organization documents Hōnen Matsuri in Komaki and states that it is held on 15 March.
International Day Against Police Brutality
The Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COBP) documents March 15 as the International Day Against Police Brutality since 1997, with independent historical corroboration.