World NGO Day

The concept of World NGO Day was created and initiated in 2009 by Latvian-British lawyer and philanthropist Mārcis Skadmanis.^[3][4] He initially developed this initiative during his studies at the Turība University in Riga, and later continued its international advancement in London, United Kingdom. Initially, thanks to the support of the Civic Alliance - Latvia, it was recognized in 2010 by 12 Baltic Sea Region countries at the X Baltic Sea NGO Forum.^[5]

Internationally, the day was first officially launched and marked on February 27, 2014, in Helsinki, Finland. This historic inaugural forum was supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and attended by representatives of the United Nations (UN), UNESCO, and the European Union,^[6] including the then-head of the UN Development Programme and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark.

Since 2017, the European External Action Service (EEAS)^[7] and other global leaders have officially highlighted this day in their annual statements, and since 2024 it has been officially included in the European Union's list of recognized international days.^[8][9]

In Latvia, since 2025, February 27 has been officially recognized as World NGO Day, with the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) including it in the law "On Holidays, Remembrance and Observance Days".^[10][11]

World NGO Day has several core objectives:^[12]

• Highlight and honor: Celebrate the global contributions of NGOs in areas such as health, education, human rights, and environmental protection.
• Remembrance: Commemorate NGO workers who have lost their lives or suffered while carrying out their professional and mission duties.
• Collaboration and education: Foster stronger cooperation between the non-governmental sector and the public or private sectors, educate the public about the role of these organizations, and encourage volunteering.

Latvia became one of the first countries in the world to include World NGO Day in its list of official state observance days. The recognition process concluded in early 2025, solidifying the role of NGOs in national legislation. In Latvia, this day has been celebrated with various regional forums, discussions, and open-door days since 2014, supported and organized by local associations, foundations, municipalities, and ministries.

The proposal to designate February 27 as an official observance day was submitted to the Saeima by the Presidium of the Saeima. The draft law was reviewed and adopted as a matter of urgency to honor civil society's contribution to national security and prosperity.^[13]

On February 26, 2025, the Saeima adopted the amendments to the law "On Holidays, Remembrance and Observance Days" in its final reading.^[14] The Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the Saeima was responsible for advancing the bill, supporting its immediate adoption and emphasizing that such a step promotes public self-organization and civic participation.^[15]