World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
A/RES/77/8
A/RES/77/8
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
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence is observed on 18 November. The United Nations day focuses on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse of children, protecting rights and supporting the physical and mental health, dignity and healing of victims and survivors.
The observance requires especially careful language because it concerns children and trauma. Educational content should be survivor-centred, age-appropriate and designed to reduce harm rather than sensationalize abuse.
Why it matters
Prevention includes safer institutions, effective child-protection systems, education, reporting pathways, accountable digital and offline environments, and action on inequalities or emergencies that can increase vulnerability.
Healing can require health care, trauma-informed psychosocial support, legal assistance, family and community support, and long-term services that respect the choices, privacy and dignity of survivors.
History
Nigeria and Sierra Leone submitted the draft resolution that led to establishment of the World Day, with many additional Member States joining as sponsors.
On 7 November 2022, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/77/8 and proclaimed 18 November of each year as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence.
The Secretary-General’s spokesperson identified 18 November 2022 as the first World Day.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
Nigeria and Sierra Leone
The UN Digital Library identifies Nigeria and Sierra Leone as the authors of draft resolution A/77/L.8.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/77/8
First documented observance
The Secretary-General’s noon briefing on 18 November 2022 states that the date marked the first World 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.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse
Ways to observe
Use child-protection and public-health sources rather than graphic case descriptions when educating about abuse.
Make reporting and support information appropriate to the user’s country or institution instead of assuming one universal process.
Do not encourage children or survivors to disclose identifying details publicly.
Pair prevention messaging with information about healing, rights, access to care and accountability.
Useful facts
The World Day is observed on 18 November.
Nigeria and Sierra Leone were the authors of draft A/77/L.8.
A/RES/77/8 was adopted on 7 November 2022.
The first World Day was marked on 18 November 2022.
The observance addresses both prevention and survivor healing.
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.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
- Minors 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/77/L.8 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/77/8 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — World Day background (opens in a new tab)
UN Secretary-General noon briefing — first World Day, 18 November 2022 (opens in a new tab)
UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/8 (opens in a new tab)
Un Resolution
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 — World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence (opens in a new tab)
Un Observance
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 World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence?
18 November The stored recurrence guidance is: 18 November.
Does World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence 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 World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence 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 World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Is World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence 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 World Day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/77/8 on 7 November 2022.
Who proposed the establishing draft?
The UN Digital Library identifies Nigeria and Sierra Leone as the authors of draft resolution A/77/L.8, with many additional sponsors.
When was it first observed?
The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson identified 18 November 2022 as the first World Day.
Other observances on November 18
These records also resolve to November 18, 2026 under the current authority data.
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Education Support Professionals Day
The National Education Association lists November 18, 2026 as Education Support Professionals Day and states it is observed on the Wednesday of American Education Week.
Education Support Professionals Day (National ESP Day)
NEA’s American Education Week calendar places Education Support Professionals Day on Wednesday of the week and gives the 2026 date as 18 November.
GIS Day
The official GIS Day site identifies 18 November 2026 as GIS Day and describes it as a global celebration for sharing, teaching and inspiring others with geographic information systems.
International Day of Islamic Art
Proclaimed at UNESCO’s 40th General Conference (2019)
International Occult Day
National Today places International Occult Day on November 18 annually, and Calendarr independently lists it on November 18 in 2027.