2018 — The Nelson Mandela Centenary
#MandelaDay #Mandela100

100 Years Commemoration Banner

 

Nelson Mandela International Day 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela. The Centenary is an occasion to reflect on his life and legacy, and to follow his call to "make of the world a better place." Mandela embodied the highest values of the United Nations. One hundred years after his birth, Mandela’s example of courage and compassion continue to inspire the world.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is dedicating this year's Mandela Day to Action Against Poverty, honouring Mandela's leadership and devotion to fighting poverty and promoting social justice for all.

Nelson Mandela Peace Summit

UN Headquarters, 24 September & 2 October —

In General Assembly resolution 72/243, adopted on 22 December 2017, UN Member States decided to convene a high-level plenary meeting, to be known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, focusing on global peace, in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela.

More information:

Multimedia:

Mandela Peace Summit poster with the quote: 'For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others'
Miroslav Lajčák (left), President of the 72nd session of the General Assembly, Penny Abeywardena (centre), Commissioner of NYC, and Andries Carl Nel, Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of South Africa, water plants at community garden Harlem Grown. © UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Public Service Activity — NYC

Harlem, NYC, 18 July —

UN staff and the diplomatic community worked in community gardens in the Harlem neighborhood, in a volunteer activity organized in collaboration with the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. More than 100 volunteered to help with composting, weeding, mulching, watering and tree care in community gardens in Harlem – a neighbourhood Nelson Mandela visited several times on his trips to New York.

Brooklyn, NYC, 18 July —

UN staff joined students at the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice in Brooklyn to install new learning spaces.

Multimedia:

Photo of Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed speaking at the Global Citizen Festival, NYC, 23 September 2018. ©  UN Photo/Mark Garten

2 December
Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 — South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 December —

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed will be participating in this free-ticketed concert to celebrate the centenary of Nelson Mandela and honour his legacy in the fight to end extreme poverty.

Nelson Mandela portrait. © Mandela Foundation/Matthew Willman

Exhibit "BUILDING ON THE LEGACY OF NELSON MANDELA" — NYC

UN Headquarters, 9 July – 2 September —

The exhibit honours Mandela’s contributions to the main areas of work of the UN — peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. It also illustrates initiatives taken by the UN General Assembly in recognition of the South African leader’s legacy.

The exhibit is organized by the UN Department of Public Information in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN.

Photo of Sherri Aldis introducing editor Sahm Venter and Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela the UN Bookshop in the NYC Headquarters. ©  United Nations/Nora Yinuo Chen

Book Launch — NYC

UN Bookshop, 20 July —

"The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela", published this July, was discussed at the UN Bookshop, with editor Sahm Venter and Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela.

Special Event: Nelson Mandela at 100 — NYC

Symphony Space, 9 July —

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed spoke at a special event featuring readings from "The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela" and reflections celebrating Nelson Mandela's centennial birthday. The event was co-presented with PEN America and Liveright, in collaboration with The New York Times.

Around the World

UN information centres organized events and activities to commemorate Mandela Day.

— Including —
Antananarivo, Brazzaville, Cairo, Dakar, Islamabad, Lima, Lomé, Lusaka, Rio, among others.


Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka

In Colombo, Sri Lanka, UNIC and RCO staff celebrated Mandela Day at Zahira College with Puttalam Youth Model UN students, through interactive session highlighting Mandela’s values as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.


Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland

In Geneva, Switzerland, more than 300 people attended a ceremony in the Human Rights Hall, and an estimated 2,000 people heard an audio clip of Nelson Mandela’s speech to the 1998 General Assembly, played at an outdoor concert in the city.


Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia

In Jakarta, Indonesia, UNIC, together with the Embassy of South Africa, helped out in a home for orphaned, poor or abandoned girls, assisting in the kitchen and garden, painting and cleaning, and presenting the home with supplies.


Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN family teamed up with the South African Embassy and civil society organizations to conduct medical screenings for glycemia, malaria, gynaecology, ophthalmology and AIDS at Saint Joseph Hospital.


Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria

In Lagos, Nigeria, UNIC worked with students to clean up Freedom Park, followed by a symposium in collaboration with the UN Association of Nigeria and Freedom Park Lagos.


Manama, Bahrain

Manama, Bahrain

In Manama, Bahrain, UNC organized an exhibit, musical performance and discussion at the the Mashq Art Space.


Manila, Philippines

Manila, Philippines

In Manila, Philippines, UNIC in collaboration with the South African Embassy and other partners, planted 100 trees for Mandela’s 100 years.


Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico

In Mexico City, Mexico, UNIC organized an exhibit at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance, in collaboration with the South African Embassy.


Moscow, Russian Federation

Moscow, Russian Federation

In Moscow, Russian Federation, UNIC hosted a ceremony and film screening as well as an event with more than 70 children with special needs, giving them a chance to try their hand in cooking, medical treatment, hairdressing, among others.


Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya

In Nairobi, Kenya, more than 350 pupils gathered with diplomats, government officials and business leaders at the UN Office to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.


Pretoria, South Africa

Pretoria, South Africa

In Pretoria, South Africa, UNIC staff worked with the Nelson Mandela Foundation on the refurbishment of a youth centre in Orlando, Soweto.


Tehran, Iran

Tehran, Iran

In Tehran, Iran, UNIC supported local NGOs and charities in train the trainer activities and teaching vulnerable children and people with disabilities. UNIC also organized a ceremony and published a UN Mandela booklet in Persian.


Yaoundé, Cameroon

Yaoundé, Cameroon

In Yaoundé, Cameroon, UNIC organized an event at the Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, including 67 patient visits and screenings of the Secretary-General’s video message and the film "Invictus".