Nelson
Mandela was a singular figure on the global stage — a man of quiet
dignity and towering achievement, a giant for justice and a
down-to-earth human inspiration.
I am profoundly saddened by his passing. On behalf of the United
Nations, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of South Africa
and especially to Nelson Mandela’s family and loved ones.
Many around the world were greatly
influenced by his selfless struggle for human dignity, equality and
freedom. He touched our lives in deeply personal ways. At the same
time, no one did more in our time to advance the values and aspirations
of the United Nations.
Nelson Mandela devoted his life to
the service of his people and humanity, and he did so at great personal
sacrifice. His principled stance and the moral force that underpinned
it were decisive in dismantling the system of apartheid.
Remarkably, he emerged from 27
years of detention without rancor, determined to build a new South
Africa based on dialogue and understanding. The Truth and Reconciliation
Commission established under his leadership remains a model for
achieving justice in societies confronting a legacy of human rights
abuses.
In the decades-long fight against
apartheid, the United Nations stood side-by-side with Nelson Mandela and
all those in South Africa who faced unrelenting racism and
discrimination. His 1994 address to the General Assembly as the first
democratically elected President of a free South Africa was a defining
moment. The Assembly has declared 18 July, his birthday, “Nelson Mandela
International Day”, an annual observance on which we recognize and seek
to build on his contributions to promoting a culture of peace and
freedom around the world.
I was privileged to meet Nelson
Mandela in 2009. When I thanked him for his life’s work, he insisted
the credit belonged to others. I was very moved by his selflessness and
deep sense of shared purpose.
Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us — if we believe, dream and work together.
Let us continue each day to be
inspired by his lifelong example and his call to never cease working for
a better and more just world.
New York, 5 December 2013
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