International Day of Diplomats Date in the current year: October 24, 2024

A diplomat is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution to conduct communication with one or more other states or international organizations. In the modern world, diplomacy is the main instrument of foreign policy. The history of diplomatic representation in its present-day form dates back to 15th-century Italy, but it wasn’t until the French Revolution that the terms “diplomacy” and “diplomat” appeared.

There are different diplomatic ranks, which determine many ceremonial details in international diplomacy. Various diplomatic rank systems have existed throughout the history of diplomacy; the current one is outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Two top diplomatic ranks that are still in use are ambassador and chargé d'affaires.

Lower ranks typically indicate the diplomat’s seniority within their nation’s diplomatic mission. A diplomat who does not fit in the standard system of diplomatic ranks is usually referred to as an attaché, because they are “attached” to a diplomatic mission to monitor issues related to their specific area of expertise.

The person who came up with the idea of establishing an international holiday dedicated to diplomats from all countries was Abhay Kumar, better known under his pen name Abhay K., an Indian Foreign Service officer and poet who has served as a diplomat in Russia, Nepal, and Brazil. He wanted to recognize the hard work of diplomats, their contribution to bringing different cultures together, and the sacrifices they and their families make to make the world a better place.

Since Abhay K. proposed to celebrate the International Day of Diplomats while he was stationed in Brazil, the first celebration was held in Brasilia on October 24, 2017. Its date was chosen to coincide with United Nations Day. The event was attended by diplomats from Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.

In 2018, the International Day of Diplomats became truly international. The main event was once again held in Brasilia, but other capitals around the world joined the celebration with their own events and activities. Today, the International Day of Diplomats is celebrated globally, with diplomats from all over the world sharing messages about what it means to serve as a diplomat with the hashtags #InternationalDiplomatsDay and #ServingPeopleGlobally.

The International Day of Diplomats should not be confused with the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, observed annually on April 24. It was established by the United Nations in 2018 to highlight the advantages of resolving conflicts by diplomatic means. In addition to the International Day of Diplomats and the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, some countries have their own national holidays celebrating their diplomats.