World Development Information Day is observed annually on October 24th and is designed to draw the attention of the world’s public opinion to one of the many societal developmental problems every year. It’s also designed to bring attention to the need of international organizations to develop cooperation between one another so that large problems can be more quickly solved. This is a holiday that’s been observed since the 1970s and still serves an important purpose to this day.

The History Of World Development Information Day

This holiday was created when the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, an agency also known as the UNCTAD, proposed measures for the dissemination of information and the mobilization of public opinion to deal with developmental and trade problems. This all became encapsulated in UN Resolution 3038–a measure that was passed on December 19, 1972. This resolution proposed that a World Development Information Day be created to draw people’s attention to development problems around the world. Another purpose of this day is to explain to the public why international cooperation is needed to solve huge problems. To further underline the importance of this holiday, it was decided that it would coincide with United Nations Day. This allowed it to stress the developmental work undertaken by the United Nations every day.  The first celebration for World Development Information Day was held on October 24, 1973.

Facts About Global Development

Since this holiday is directly concerned with worldwide global development and how it can be properly addressed, we’ve decided to go ahead and talk about some of the global development problems currently facing us. Having a better understanding of them will help people remain focused on them and maybe one day solve them.

• Approximately 22,000 children around the world die every day from poverty.
• The deaths of children under the age of 5 around the world have increased over the past 25-years.
• Approximately 28% of children living in developing countries are considered to be underweight.
• School enrollment rates around the world are low. More than 115 million children are not enrolled in primary school and more than 225 million children don’t attend secondary school.
• Approximately 39,000 young girls become child brides every day.
• In 2011, more than 20 million children around the world were not properly vaccinated.
• Water pollution is a problem that’s becoming worse around the world.
• About 80% of the world’s population lives on under $10 a day.
• About 78% of people living in third-world countries don’t have electricity in their homes.
• The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 2-billion people are lacking key micronutrients in their daily diet.

Observing World Development Information Day

On this holiday, the United Nations focuses the public’s attention on the projects it’s currently working on through Internet, radio, television, and newspaper ads. There are also seminars and other events held for that very purpose as well. Since this isn’t a public holiday and is more of a global observance, then government agencies, and businesses remain open on this day.