2023-07-18 21:00:45
News from Angola – The secretary general of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, praised Nelson Mandela on Monday as a “colossus of courage and conviction, a leader of great deeds and extraordinary humanity” .
By: Mateus Luck
On the occasion of the Nelson Mandela International Day, which has been celebrated today since 2010, the official stressed that in commemorating the life and legacy of “Madiba”, “let us be inspired by his spirit of humanity, dignity and justice ”.
“A giant of our time”, considers the UN secretary general and says that the legacy of the former president of South Africa will be “better” honored with actions to remove racism, discrimination and hatred.
In a United Nations video, the world leader also pointed to action in favor of equality, human rights and justice as ways to honor the memory of Nelson Mandela.
Considering the climate crisis destroying the lives of those who did the least to cause it, António Guterres considers the international financial system “unfair and outdated” for “failing to fulfill its function as a global safety net”.
He called for support for women, young people and change agents around the world to build a “better world”.
Nelson Mandela International Day was established by the UN in November 2009, in honor of Mandela’s legacy, defender of human rights and enshrined in the fight to guarantee justice, social, political and economic equality for black people.
The consensus of 192 UN member countries led to the approval of Resolution A/RES/64/13, which made it possible to recognize the event, which would only be celebrated for the first time in 2010.
Since then, Nelson Mandela International Day has been celebrated annually around the world on the 18th of July, a tribute to one of Africa’s most notable sons and promoter of democracy and balanced interracial relations.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa, and died on December 5, 2013, in Johannesburg, aged 95.
He was a lawyer, activist and the first black person to reach the South African presidency through express and clearly democratic elections after 26 years in prison. Before that, he was sentenced, in 1964, to life imprisonment.
In 1990, after great international pressure, Nelson Mandela would be released on February 11, 1990, under the guidance of Frederik de Klerk, at the time President of South Africa.
He received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1993. At the base of this was the struggle undertaken against the racial segregation regime (apartheid) and a search for civil and human rights.
After lengthy negotiations, Mandela inaugurated multiracial elections in April 1994. His party won. Mandela was elected President of South Africa and finally, with a parliamentary majority, ended the long period of oppression with the approval of important anti-racism laws.
Mandela governed until 1999. Seven years later, in 2006, he was awarded by Amnesty International. These and other feats earned him, among other distinctions.
He dedicated himself for 67 years to the struggle for peace and human rights.
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