-
UN celebrates Mandela
News & Trends •
rarely has one person in history done so much to stir peoples dreams and move them to action the un chief said adding that struggle for equality dignity and justice continues1 the un is to mark the 100th anniversary of former south african president nelson mandela in recognition for his global contribution to the culture of peace and freedom1 nelson mandela was a towering global advocate for justice and equality un secretary-general antnio guterres said in his video message for nelson mandela international day1 the day is annually observed on july 18 which was inaugurated by un general assembly in november 2009 in recognition of mandelas global contribution to the culture of peace and freedom1 mandela who died in 2013 was the first democratically-elected president of south africa and the countrys first black head of state after he had been in prison for 27 years on charges of sabotage before being released and eventually elected president1 he continues to inspire the world through his example of courage and compassion. nelson mandela was held captive for many years. but he never became a prisoner of his past guterres said1 the un chief noted that mandela poured his energy into reconciliation and his vision of a peaceful multi-ethnic democratic south africa1 the un would use the occasion on wednesday to take stock of what it termed mandelas vast legacy for mankind1 in december 2015 the general assembly decided to extend the scope of nelson mandela international day to also promote humane conditions of imprisonment and to encourage societies everywhere to treat prisoners as a continuous part of society by adopting the revised un standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners known as the nelson mandela rules1 the rules added important safeguards including an absolute prohibition on torture and ill-treatment and clear restrictions on the use of solitary confinement instruments of restraint and intrusive searches as well as detailed guidance on prisoners rights to equivalent health-care services1 yury fedotov executive director of the un office on drugs and crime unodc said a nation should be judged by how it treats its lowest citizens not the highest ones1 nelson mandela spent 27 years in prison in the course of his struggle for justice. he knew better than anyone that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails1 a nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones the unodc chief said1 fedetov said his office would assist all countries in translating these rules into action to promote humane conditions of imprisonment and ensure no part of society is forgotten1 nelson mandela international day 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of a true hero who left the world a better and more just place than he found it fedotov said. nan1