The world celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day this Friday in recognition of the relentless fight of South Africa’s former president for democracy, peace, and freedom. Proclaimed in 2009 by the UN General Assembly, the annual event held on July 18—Mandela’s birthday—reminds humanity that every individual has the power and responsibility to change the world for the better.
In a powerful message marking the occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described Mandela’s life as “a triumph of the human spirit,” stating that his legacy is “a call to rekindle our global commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity.” Guterres emphasised that this year’s theme highlights a core principle Mandela believed in: the power of grassroots action to end poverty and inequality. For Mandela, real transformation began not in palaces or parliaments, but in neighbourhoods and communities, led by ordinary people with extraordinary resolve.
As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, Mandela’s enduring message of service and progress continues to inspire. On this important day, the UN chief urged the global community to be guided by Madiba’s unwavering dedication to freedom, equality, and human rights—principles that remain as vital today as ever.
Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said: “Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary life showed how one person can transform oppression, struggle, and subjugation into reconciliation, social justice, and unity. Just as Madiba’s life was a triumph of the human spirit, his legacy is a call to rekindle our global commitment to peace, justice and human dignity. This year’s theme reminds us that the power to end poverty and inequality is in all our hands. Mandela believed in the power of collective, grassroots action. He knew that ordinary people could bend the arc of history, and that lasting change started not in capitals and boardrooms, but in neighbourhoods and communities.
“Mandela’s life of service and progress continues to inspire our efforts at the United Nations, as we celebrate our 80th anniversary. On this important day, and every day, let us all be guided by Madiba’s lifelong commitment to freedom, justice, equality, and the rights that belong to every person on earth.
Meanwhile, the Nelson Mandela Foundation says the South African government’s failure to deliver basic services is a ‘betrayal of Madiba’s legacy.’
On International Mandela Day, the foundation has highlighted South Africa’s challenges, which it says are jeopardising its development and stability. They range from widespread corruption to high unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, and crime. The foundation has called on citizens, organisations, and the international community to champion justice on this Mandela Day.
The foundation’s Professor Verne Harris said: “Madiba’s legacy is being betrayed by terrible failures of leadership, such as failures of service delivery. And so for us, Mandela Day is a small part of a much bigger strategy to contribute to realising the country of his dream. We’re doing certain things globally as well. I think many of the challenges that South Africans think are unique to South African are global challenges.”