PGA Remarks at the informal meeting of the General Assembly to mark the observance of Nelson Mandela International Day

Excellencies,

Distinguished laureates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we celebrate one of the towering figures of our time: Nelson Mandela.

We honour his courage. His leadership in the struggle for freedom.

And his lifelong commitment to unity across Africa.

Madiba embodied the values of peace, equality, human rights, and service to others.

He reminded us that freedom is meaningless without justice.

That justice is the bedrock of peace.

That peace depends on institutions that protect the rights and dignity of all people.

And that these fundamental freedoms must never be compromised.

In a world still divided by conflict and inequalities, Mandela’s legacy urges us to still choose dialogue over hatred.

Understanding over fear and vengeance.

And unity above all.

Indeed, “it is still in our hands to combat inequality and poverty,” as this year’s theme reminds us.

This duty does not rest with any single leader or nation.

It belongs to us all.

It belongs to all peoples.

It belongs to all nations.

Dear friends,

Today’s commemoration holds special significance.

For we also host the award ceremony for the 2025 United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize.

This is the third edition of this prestigious award.

It is conferred every five years to those who have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity and advancing the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

It is my honour to welcome and congratulate this year’s distinguished laureates:

Ms. Brenda Reynolds, of Canada, is a social worker who brings a lifetime of lived experience, advocacy, and leadership to the forefront of Indigenous Peoples health, mental wellness, and reconciliation efforts, both in Canada and internationally.

Mr. Kennedy Odede, of Kenya, is an advocate for social entrepreneurship and community development.

He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shining Hope for Communities, which empowers local communities and delivers vital services to over 2.4 million people each year.

The selection of these remarkable leaders sends a powerful message:

That grassroots leadership places the power in our hands to create change.

And that each of us can make a difference.

In this regard, I express my sincere appreciation to the Selection Committee – comprised of the Permanent Representatives of Bahrain, Egypt, Finland, Poland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and South Africa (as an ex-officio member) – for their time, energy and tireless engagement.

I am also grateful to the eminent personalities who, in their advisory capacity, offered wisdom, invaluable advice and insights that were pivotal in identifying laureates who reflect Mandela’s spirit:

Her Excellency Ms. Marcella A. Liburd, Governor-General of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis;

Her Excellency Ms. Tarja Halonen, former President of the Republic of Finland;

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Mostafa ElBaradei, Nobel Laureate, former Vice President of Egypt, and former Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; and

Ms. Elżbieta Mikos-Skuza, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Warsaw, Poland.

My sincere thanks also go to the Department of Global Communications and Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming, for their extraordinary support.

Excellencies,

This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the Nelson Mandela Rules – the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners – on which I convened a high-level debate last month.

These rules are a testament to yet another aspect of Nelson Mandela’s legacy: justice and dignity for all, everywhere.

It is a legacy born from 27 years spent behind prison bars, where Mandela held firm to the belief that freedom, dignity and equality were not just a dream for the few, but a destiny for all.

Excellencies,

This dream now rests in our hands.

Nelson Mandela’s life was a call to action, one that rings across generations today.

As we mark the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, let us draw strength from his courage.

Let us realise the promise of the United Nations Charter.

Let us reaffirm faith in human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in equality between men and women.

And let us establish conditions that ensure justice and respect for the obligations arising from the law.

Our abiding aim must be to strengthen multilateralism.

So that tomorrow’s leaders, who will write its next chapters, pick up a mantle of courage, compassion, and hope.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived,” as Madiba once said.

“It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Let us forge ahead and make a difference.

Thank you.