The mandate of the International Day of Happiness Board of Directors is to promote and advance the principles, articles, and values of UN resolutions 65/309 and 66/281 with particular emphasis on Article 2 of UN 66/281 which states:
[The General Assembly] Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day of Happiness in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness-raising activities;
On April 2, 2012, the United Nations held the first ever High-Level Meeting on Happiness and Wellbeing: Defining a New Economic Paradigm.
At the First High-Level Meeting, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said, “We need a new economic paradigm that recognizes the parity between the three pillars of sustainable development. Social, economic and environmental well-being are indivisible. Together they define gross global happiness.”
The International Day of Happiness was founded on June 28th, 2012, when all 193 member states of the United Nations adopted UN resolution 66/281 by consensus recognizing happiness as a fundamental human right and goal, and aspiration in the lives of all human beings.
“Happiness for the entire human family is one of the main goals of the United Nations” – Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
“Happiness is neither a frivolity nor a luxury. It is a deep-seated yearning shared by all members of the human family. It should be denied to no-one and available to all. ” – Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Jayme Illien
Founder, Executive Chairman
Jayme Illien is an Indian-American social entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, global economist, policy advisor, activist, humanitarian, statesman, global citizen and founder of the United Nations-sanctioned International Day of Happiness celebrated worldwide every March 20. Illien is also Chairman, President, and CEO at Illien Global Public Benefit Corporation, a global humanitarian and international development organization, which takes an interdisciplinary, multi-sector approach, working with governments, the private sector, academia, civil society and all related stakeholders, to advance the human condition and world happiness.
In 2011, Illien Global led by CEO Jayme Illien launched an initiative at the United Nations to create a new global day of awareness, the “International Day of Happiness”. UN resolution 66 281, which was adopted by consensus of all 193 member states on June 28, 2012 with the support of former UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon, establishing the International Day of Happiness now celebrated worldwide every March 20.