"We stand here today to salute the United Nations Organization and its member states, both singly and collectively, for joining forces with the masses of our people in a common struggle that has brought about our emancipation and pushed back the frontiers of racism."
With these words, Nelson Mandela, who died on 5 December 2013, paid tribute to the UN's pivotal role in the anti-apartheid struggle in his first address to the General Assembly as President of South Africa in 1994. Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in turn paid tribute to the man he described as a "giant for justice and a down-to-earth inspiration" who did more than anyone to "advance the values and aspirations of the United Nations".
For 67 years, Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity, as a human rights lawyer, political activist, a prisoner of conscience and an international peacemaker and figurehead. After stepping down from the presidency, he continued to champion causes at home and abroad, from building schools and improving access to water, to founding The Elders, a group of global leaders that undertakes advocacy and mediation on peace and human rights issues. He was particularly focussed on tackling HIV/AIDS, combating both the disease and the stigma attached to it.
To commemorate his achievements, the UN established in 2009 the Nelson Mandela International Day. Celebrated each year on 18 July, it calls on people to devote 67 minutes of their time - one minute for every year of Mandela's public service - to helping others. As the world comes together to mourn his death, UNA-UK hopes that people everywhere will honour his memory by making gestures of solidarity in their daily lives.
