Human Rights Day is marked on 10 December and commemorates the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Day is a chance to pay tribute to all human rights defenders. It also marks the end of the 16 days of activism campaign, running from 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – to 10 December – Human Rights Day - and calling for the elimination of violence against women, inviting everyone to take action against it.

UNV recognizes the efforts of the OHCHR and other partners working to achieve human rights for all. Meet some of the UN Volunteers working to monitor and report on abuses, sensitize institutions and communities, and protect individual people. Visit site

World AIDS Day is marked on 1 December each year and is an opportunity to unite people worldwide in the fight against HIV/AIDS, showing support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and commemorating those who have died.  Voluntary action is an integral part of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Voluntary action is an integral part of the fight against HIV/AIDS.  The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme applies people-centred approaches in its collaboration with UNAIDS, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), local and international non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, volunteer involving organizations, networks of people living with HIV/AIDS and national HIV/AIDS programmes in affected countries. Visit site

Universal Children’s Day is celebrated each year to promote the well-being of children. UNICEF is a proponent of children’s rights and provides humanitarian and development assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. Voluntary action is fundamental to UNICEF in achieving its objectives. Visit site

In this vast and multifaceted country of 1.1 billion, the development challenges are immense. UNV volunteers are at the heart of UNDP’s efforts to tackle poverty here, and all of them are Indian nationals. Visit site

Volunteerism empowers people to take charge of their destinies and to help their countries move forward. Here we encounter stories from Liberia and Sierra Leone each illustrating the relationships between volunteerism, peace and development. Visit site

UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator Naheed Haque made her first official visit to the field since taking office in July 2009. She met with Government and UN counterparts and visited UNV volunteers working with communities in Zambia and Malawi. Visit site

'Volunteering for our Planet' recognized and promoted voluntary effort for the environment. Volunteers around the world registered more than 1.5 million hours of environmental activities during our campaign, covering the six months from World Environment Day on 5 June to International Volunteer Day, 5 December 2009. Visit site

Kabul, Afghanistan: After decades of war, Afghanistan geared up for presidential elections on 20 August 2009. This was the second democratic cycle the country has seen – and just as in 2004, UNV volunteers were heavily involved with the electoral process. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: Bonn, Germany: International Women's Day is marked every year on 8 March, and in 2009 the theme is 'Women and Men: United to End Violence against Women'. UNV works with partners around the world to help end violence against women, supporting the empowerment of women and their communities and thus contributing to their escape from fear and coercion. Read about how UNV is working on these issues, and about the UNV volunteers setting an example for women everywhere. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: It is 60 years since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the theme for Human Rights Day, 10 December 2008, 'Dignity and justice for all of us', reinforces the vision of the Declaration as a commitment to the entire human race. Across the world, UNV volunteers are working towards this vision: monitoring and reporting on abuses, sensitizing institutions and communities, and helping to protect individual people. Visit site