International Delegate’s Day Date in the current year: April 25, 2024

The date of April 25 was chosen for International Delegate’s Day for a reason: it is the anniversary of the opening day of the UN Conference of International Organization, commonly known as the San Francisco Conference, where delegates from the UN founding states created and signed the United Nations Charter. The inaugural International Delegate’s Day marked the 75th anniversary of the conference.

Delegates who participated in the San Francisco Conference represented 50 countries and over 80% of the world’s population. In addition to 850 delegates, the conference was attended by their advisers, delegation staff, the administration of the conference – a total of about 3,500 people. People of different races, nationalities and religions were determined to help the world recover from the devastating World War II and create an international organization that would help maintain peace.

Using the Dumbarton Oaks proposals adopted at the Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization in 1944, delegates developed the United Nations Charter in record time. It was signed on June 26, 1945, exactly two months after the first meeting, and came into force on October 24, 1945 (the latter date is now celebrated as United Nations Day).

Interestingly, International Delegate’s Day is celebrated on the following day after the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Of course, this is not a coincidence, because it is delegates who are responsible for establishing a dialogue to resolve relevant global issues through diplomatic means, taking into account the interests of all parties involved.

Delegates are representatives of the UN member states who promote their respective countries’ interests in meetings at the United Nations. They speak and vote on behalf of their country at the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, and other principle organs of the UN. Using multilateral diplomacy, they promote the ideals and principles of the organization, helping resolve global issues on the agenda and achieve the goals of sustainable development.

The UN General Assembly declared April 25 as International Delegate’s Day in order to highlight the role of delegates in implementing multilateral diplomacy, promoting effective multilateralism, and fulfilling the key goals of the United Nations, such as maintaining international peace and security, encouraging respect for human rights and freedoms, and promoting social and economic development of all nations.

Governments of UN member states, the organizations of the UN system, other international and regional organizations, NGOs and individuals are invited to hold International Delegate’s Day events in accordance with their goals and priorities. The resolution establishing International Delegate’s Day emphasizes that the cost of such events should be met from voluntary contributions.