Nelson Mandela International Day
Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black head of state who firstly won in a fully representative democratic election. He represented nationalist and socialist ideas.
Mandela was born to the Thembu royal family in Mvezo, British South Africa. He was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities in 1962 sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial for his sabotage campaign against the government. He spent 17 years in prison split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison, and Victor Verster Prison, F. W. de Klerk president released him in 1990, they fought together against the discrimination on grounds of race. In 1994 Mandela led the ANC to victory and became a president, created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights abuses. Despite of his socialist beliefs retained its predecessor's liberal framework, introduced measures to encourage land reform. Nelson Mandela rejected his second presidential term in 1999 and focused on combating poverty and HIV/AIDS through the charitable Nelson Mandela Foundation. He won more than 250 honours for his activities including the Nobel Peace Prize. In South Africa they call him the "Father of the Nation"
After his dead Nelson Mandela still insprirate people. In 2015 the General Assembly approved the "Nelson Mandela Rules" which helps the social inclusion of the prisoners and approciate the work of prison staff. The 18th of July is Nelson Mandela International. This day reminds us that everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for a better place, we need to take actions and inspire the change.
Resources used:
http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela
Written by: Ágnes Illés