Celebrating Diversity
Queen's University is committed to equality, and to promoting and celebrating equality and diversity in the workplace and on campus generally.
Equality was embedded in our 1908 Charter ‘to provide and maintain equality of opportunity to all persons’ and has been a guiding principle for more than 100 years. Equality, diversity and inclusion are central pillars of our new institutional strategy, Strategy 2030.
Queen’s Key Diversity / Recognition Days
We are committed to creating an inclusive study and work environment for all. This calendar of key diversity and recognition days has been developed to raise awareness of equality and inclusion, and to help Queen’s staff and students to recognise and celebrate a variety of occasions throughout the year, planning events and initiatives in an inclusive way. It includes some UN Days in addition to commonly recognised visibility and pride days.
The dates and themes listed for each month have been chosen to represent the diversity of our community at Queen's, but is not an exhaustive list – if you have any feedback or suggestions for occasions that should be marked in future calendars, please contact eqdiv@qub.ac.uk
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August 2024
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/ Notes 17-27 August
Belfast Mela
Race/ Ethnicity / Religion
Belfast Mela is one of Northern Ireland’s largest arts festivals bringing together music, dance, arts and food from across the world to celebrate the city’s proud cultural diversity.
- September 2024
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/ Notes 23 September
Bi Visibility Day
Sexual Orientation
Marked each year since 1999, Bi Visibility Day raises bi awareness and challenges bisexual & biromantic erasure
23 September
International Day of Sign Languages, World Deaf Day
Disability
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
- October 2024
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/ Notes All month
Black History Month
Race / Ethnicity
October marks Black History Month, the annual commemoration of the history, achievements and contributions of black people in the UK.
1 October
International Day of Older Persons
Age
International Day of Older persons acknowledges and celebrates the 900+ million people aged over 60 around the world.
10 October
World Mental Health Day
All /Disability
World Mental Health Day is marked every year on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health around the world and to promote efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.
18 October
World Menopause Day
Gender / Age /Disability
World Menopause Day is held every year on the 18th October. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing.
- November 2024
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/ Notes 1 November
Diwali
Religion / Ethnicity / Cultural Belief
Hindu celebration - a five-day festival of lights marking the end of the Hindu year. The first day is observed as a holiday by many Hindu people. Diwali will be celebrated from 29 October to 3 November 2024.
15 November
International Stand Up to Bullying Day
All
Observed twice a year in February and November, aims to create empathy and end bullying and harassment.
19 November
International Men's Day
Gender
- December 2023
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/ Notes 3 December
International Day of Persons with a Disability
Disability
The International Day of Disabled Persons aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.
Rainbow Laces Day
Sexual Orientation
Rainbow Laces is a positive campaign that celebrates LGBT people and helps to start conversations about how we can improve LGBT inclusion across sports so that they become everyone’s game.
21 December
Winter Solstice (Dongzhi Festival)
Religion/Cultural Belief
Dongzhi literally means 'Winter's Arrival'. It is one of the 24 solar terms of China's traditional solar calendar. It has long been celebrated on (China's) Winter Solstice when the night is longest, and the day is shortest in the Northern Hemisphere.
25 December
Christmas
Religion/Cultural Belief
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among Christians.
25 December
Hannukah (begins)
Religion/ Ethnicity / Cultural Belief
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar.
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January 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information / Notes 4 January World Braille Day Disability World Braille Day is annually celebrated on 4th January, the birthday of Braille inventor, Louis Braille.27 January Holocaust Memorial Day Religion/ Cultural Belief Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. 27 January also marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.29 January
Lunar/Chinese New Year
Race / Ethnicity
The holiday marks start of the new year of China's traditional lunisolar calendar.
- February 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/ Notes All month LGBT History Month Sexual Orientation LGBT History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.3-9 February UK Race Equality Week Race/ Ethnicity Race Equality Week is an annual UK-wide movement uniting thousands of organisations and individuals to address the barriers to race equality in the workplace.4 February World Cancer Day All World Cancer Day is an international day marked annually to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.11 February International
Day of Women and Girls in ScienceGender/ Age The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual observance to promote the full and equal access and participation of females in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields.28 February
International
Stand Up to Bullying DayAll Observed twice a year in February and November, aims to create empathy and end bullying and harassment.28 February – 30 March
Ramadan Month / Eid
Religion/Cultural Belief
Ramadan, Arabic Ramadan, in Islam, is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting.
The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, the “Feast of Fast-Breaking,” - March 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information/
Notestbc
University Wellbeing Week
Disability
University Mental Health Week brings together university communities to make mental health a university-wide priority and create ongoing year round change to the future of student mental health.
8 March
International Women's Day
Gender
International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women
14 March
Holi
Race / Ethnicity
Holi is a festival of colours celebrated in spring season. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival and also sometimes called as festival of love.
It is primarily celebrated in India, Nepal, and other regions of the world primarily among the people of Indian origin. The festival is celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March).
17 March
St Patrick's Day
Religion/Cultural Belief
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland
30 March
End of Ramadan / Eid Al Fitr
Religion/Cultural Belief
Islamic event marking the close of Ramadan. It is a festival of thanksgiving to Allah for enjoying the month of Ramadan. It involves wearing the finest clothing, saying prayers and fostering understanding with other religions.
31 March
International Transgender Day of Visibility
Gender
International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates trans and non-binary people and raises awareness of discrimination faced by trans people worldwide.
- April 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information / Notes 2 April
World Autism Awareness Day
Disability
World Autism Awareness Day encourages people to take measures to raise awareness about people with ASD throughout the world.
14 April
Vaisakhi / Baisakhi
Religion/Cultural Belief
Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, is the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699. Vaisakhi is a spring festival which happens on the 13 or 14 April every year.
It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab until it became Sikhism's most important festival.20 April
Easter
Religion/Cultural Belief
Easter is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament.
- May 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected Characteristic Information / Notes 15 May
International Day of Families
Dependants
Observed on the 15th May every year and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families.
17 May
IDAHO: International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Sexual Orientation
Observed on 17th May and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide.
12 - 18 May
Mental Health Awareness Week
Disability
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event to raise awareness of mental health, and promote good mental health.
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June 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected
CharacteristicInformation/
NotesAll month Pride Month (June) Sexual Orientation Every year, during the month of June, the LGBT community recognises and celebrates the influence LGBT people have had around the world, and provides an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of current issues facing the community.9 June Carers Week Dependants Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. - July 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected
CharacteristicInformation/
Notes12 July Orange Fest Cultural Belief TBC Belfast Pride Sexual Orientation Belfast Pride is the biggest LGBT+ Festival on the island of Ireland and includes a number events, including the Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. - August 2025
Date Diversity/ Recognition Day Protected
CharacteristicInformation/
Notestbc Belfast Mela Race/ Ethnicity/ Religion Belfast Mela is one of Northern Ireland’s largest arts festivals bringing together music, dance, arts and food from across the world to celebrate the city’s proud cultural diversity.
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