United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
A/RES/52/149
A/RES/52/149
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
The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed on 26 June. The General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1997 to support victims and advance the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture.
The prohibition of torture is absolute under international law. The observance focuses on survivors, prevention, accountability, rehabilitation and redress.
Why it matters
The Day recognizes the dignity and rights of people who have survived torture and calls attention to the obligation to prevent torture in detention, conflict, policing and other contexts.
Responsible observance should be survivor-centred, avoid graphic or voyeuristic descriptions, protect confidentiality, and distinguish documented allegations and findings from unverified claims.
History
The General Assembly acted on the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council, reflected in ECOSOC decision 1997/251 of 22 July 1997.
On 12 December 1997, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/52/149 and proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The first observance took place on 26 June 1998. The date marks the entry into force of the Convention against Torture on 26 June 1987; UN material also notes that the United Nations Charter was signed on 26 June 1945.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
United Nations Economic and Social Council
UN reference material states that the General Assembly proclaimed the Day on the recommendation of ECOSOC decision 1997/251.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/52/149
First documented observance
UN press material announced 26 June 1998 as the first observance; the 2000 UN notice calls 2000 the third International Day.
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
Also known as
Torture Abolition Day
Ways to observe
Learn the absolute prohibition of torture and the obligations set out in the Convention against Torture.
Support credible survivor-rehabilitation, legal-aid or documentation organizations while respecting confidentiality and informed consent.
Use OHCHR, treaty-body and UN Voluntary Fund resources rather than graphic social-media material when educating others.
Discuss prevention mechanisms, accountability and redress without assuming that one survivor’s experience represents all victims.
Useful facts
The Day is observed on 26 June.
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/52/149 on 12 December 1997.
The proclamation followed ECOSOC decision 1997/251.
The first observance took place on 26 June 1998.
26 June marks the 1987 entry into force of the Convention against Torture.
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
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/52/149 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (opens in a new tab)
Intergovernmental
United Nations Meetings Coverage — first observance, 26 June 1998 (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)
United Nations — Secretary-General message / A/53/283 (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 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture?
26 June The stored recurrence guidance is: 26 June.
Does United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 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 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 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 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Is United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 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 was the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture established?
The General Assembly proclaimed the Day through A/RES/52/149 on 12 December 1997, following an ECOSOC recommendation.
Why is it observed on 26 June?
26 June marks the date in 1987 when the Convention against Torture entered into force. UN material also notes that the UN Charter was signed on 26 June 1945.
When was the first observance?
United Nations records identify 26 June 1998 as the first observance.
Other observances on June 26
These records also resolve to June 26, 2027 under the current authority data.
Day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence lists 26 June as the Day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan and published 2026 events for the observance.
Day of the National Flag
Romania’s Ministry of National Defence states that the Day of the National Flag was established by Law No. 96/1998 and is celebrated annually on 26 June.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
A/RES/42/112
National Barcode Day
Barcoding, Inc. says it created National Barcode Day with Datalogic and ScanSource for June 26, commemorating the first retail UPC scan on June 26, 1974.
National Canoe Day
The Canadian Canoe Museum identifies 26 June as National Canoe Day and maintains a current 2026 event page.
National Chocolate Pudding Day
Two Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals chapter calendars from different publication years list National Chocolate Pudding Day on 26 June.