International Epilepsy Day

International Epilepsy Day, a joint initiative created by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), is a global event celebrated annually on the 2^nd Monday of February, to promote awareness on epilepsy right around the world. With IBE and ILAE representation in more than 120 countries, this is a powerful opportunity to highlight the problems faced by people with epilepsy, their families and carers, in every region of the world.

International Epilepsy Day is the opportunity for all stakeholders to join together and speak with one global voice. The objectives for International Epilepsy Day are:

1. to raise awareness of the disease at international and government level as well as in the general public
2. to strengthen the epilepsy movement by uniting epilepsy associations in a worldwide campaign
3. to raise visibility on epilepsy and encourage discussion about epilepsy
4. to provide epilepsy associations with a significant fundraising opportunity

The day also calls for all people to advocate for appropriate legislation that will guarantee human rights of people with epilepsy and encourages people with epilepsy to live to their fullest potential. Despite being one of the world's oldest known medical conditions, public fear and misunderstanding about epilepsy persists, making many people reluctant to talk about it. That reluctance leads to lives lived in the shadows, discrimination in workplaces and communities, and a lack of funding for new therapies research. For many people living with epilepsy, the misconceptions and discrimination can be more difficult to overcome than the seizures themselves.