The Global Handwashing Day took place for the first time on October 15 , 2008 , the date appointed by United Nations General Assembly to go along with the year 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation . The Global Handwashing Day took place for the first time on October 15 , 2008 , the date appointed by UN General Assembly in accordance with year 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation .