Pandor to address UN General Assembly on Nelson Mandela day commemoration
In November 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution tabled by South Africa which declared 18 July as “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the revered statesman’s contribution to the culture of peace throughout the world.
PRETORIA, July 21 (ANA) – South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor was on Wednesday scheduled to deliver a pre-recorded keynote address at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to mark Nelson Mandela International Day.
The department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) said in a statement the UN meeting would take place from late afternoon and could be viewed via webcast. (http://webtv.un.org).
Other speakers at the event include Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN, general assembly president Volkan Bozkir, chairs of the five regional groups in the UN and a representative of host country United States.
The theme for this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day is “One hand can feed another,” which resonates with the late former South African president’s legacy of building a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world for all.
In the Dirco statement, Pandor said the theme was apt in the context of the global goals to eliminate hunger and poverty.
“The theme chosen for this year is very important, in the context of the first and second goals of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which are ending poverty and hunger by 2030,” she said.
Pandor noted that this year also marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban declaration and programme of action (DDPA) at the 2001 world conference against racism held in the South African city.
It is the most comprehensive programme for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
“Nelson Mandela made huge personal sacrifices in his life-long commitment to fighting racism and discrimination. The biggest tribute we as the international community can accord him this year, is to reaffirm the importance of the DDPA, given the persisting challenge of racism around the world,” said Pandor.
Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 and died in December 2013. In November 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution tabled by South Africa which declared 18 July as “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the revered statesman’s contribution to the culture of peace throughout the world.
Since then, the UN General Assembly annually observes Nelson Mandela International Day to celebrate and keep alive Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation, political transition and social transformation, including the promotion of freedom, justice, democracy, human rights, gender equality and conflict prevention.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa