Committing to friendship

THE United Nations (UN) International Day of Friendship, observed on 30 July each year, recognises the role that friendship plays in promoting peace, reconciliation and solidarity alongside mutual understanding, respect and assistance among peoples, cultures and nations.

First mooted in 1958 to be recognised as an international day, it was not until April 27, 2011 that the UN General Assembly declared July 30 as the official International Day of Friendship. Friendship is the direct opposite of enmity.