November 27th, 2027

The International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage is observed on November 27 to call for an end to marriages that take away children's childhood, education, health, and choices. The United Nations General Assembly established the day on September 4, 2026, in a resolution led by Sierra Leone and co-sponsored by dozens of countries, and it was first observed in 2026. According to UNICEF, about 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year, and around 650 million women and girls alive today were married as children. Child marriage often ends a girl's schooling, exposes her to early pregnancy and its health risks, and makes her more vulnerable to violence and poverty; boys are affected too, though less often. Ending child marriage by 2030 is one of the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The practice is not limited to other countries: in the United States, nearly 300,000 minors were legally married between 2000 and 2018, according to the advocacy group Unchained At Last. A growing number of states, starting with Delaware and New Jersey in 2018, have banned marriage under 18 without exceptions, but many still allow it with parental or court approval. Governments, schools, and community groups mark the day with awareness campaigns, education, and advocacy for laws that protect children.

The International Day of Engagement in Science for Sustainable Development is observed every year on November 27 to encourage people of all ages to take part in science and to connect research with the challenges facing communities around the world. UNESCO proclaimed the day in November 2025 on the initiative of Ukraine, and the date honors the founding of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the birth of scientist Borys Paton, both on November 27, 1918. The day promotes citizen science, science communication, and public engagement, inviting schools, universities, museums, and research centers to open their doors through workshops, lectures, conferences, and hands-on projects. It supports the UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033) and reflects the idea that tackling problems such as climate change, food security, and public health depends not only on scientists but also on an informed and involved public.