PURPOSE: On 18 July every year, we invite you to mark Nelson Mandela International Day by making a difference in your communities. Everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better! Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change. The new Mandela Day strategy will primarily encourage collaborative partnerships to support initiatives in the areas of education and literacy, food and nutrition, sanitation, shelter as well as active citizenship. This approach will see sharpened focus on early childhood development as a key investment area to make a significant dent in the scourge of poverty.
FORUM: "IT IS IN YOUR HANDS." Nelson Mandela International Day 2023. On July 18th, the International Community commemorates Nelson Mandela. This year’s theme is: It Is In Your Hands.Today and every day, Let us find hope in Nelson Mandela’s example and inspiration in his vision; Let us honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy by taking action: By speaking out against hate and standing up for human rights. By embracing our common humanity – rich in diversity, equal in dignity, united in solidarity and by making our world more just, compassionate, prosperous, and sustainable for all. Follow the conversations with the hashtags; #MandelaDay, #Itisinyourhands, #18july.
EVENTS: The United Nations General Assembly marks Nelson Mandela International Day 2023 with an informal plenary meeting. At UNHQ NYC, Conference room 4, on July 20th, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT; The Speakers are H.E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the General Assembly; H.E. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General and Andrew Young, Politician, activist, and Former Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations.
STATEMENTS:
Remarks by Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the informal meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day 2023.
General Assembly: Informal meeting of the plenary to observe Nelson Mandela International Day, 77th session.
15th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court competition.
The Fifteenth Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition adopts a hybrid format, with the in-person final rounds scheduled to take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 17 – 21 July 2023 and the preliminary virtual rounds (online) scheduled to take place from 20 – 27 May 2023.
Statement by a representative of the City of New York (TBC)
Statement on behalf of the African States
Statement on behalf of the Asia-Pacific States
Statement on behalf of the Eastern European States
Statement on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States
Statement on behalf of the Western European and other States; and United States (as host country).
Final round Judges in the Final Round:
• Judge Ivana Jelic, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, Montenegro
• Judge Veronica Gomez, Judge at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Argentina
• Judge Miatta Samba, Judge at the International Criminal Court, Sierra Leone
• Judge Raul Pangalangan, former Judge at the International Criminal Court, Phillipines
• Professor Dire Tladi, former Chair of the United Nations International Law Commission and; former UN Special Rappoerteur Ius Cogens, South Africa
• Professor Manfred Nowak, Secretary-General of the Global Campus of Human Rights and former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Austria
• Professor Thompson Chengeta, John Moores University School of Law, Zimbabwe
• Dr Patrick Eba, Deputy Director, of the Division of International Protection for Policy and Law at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ivory Coast
• Ms Alithia Barampathaz, Human Rights Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Papau New Guinea.
About the Competition:The World Moot is open to undergraduate and masters students from all universities in the world. Teams of two students (gender diversity is encouraged) from every university in the world are invited to submit heads of argument for a hypothetical human rights case. The 50 teams with the highest memorial grades are invited to participate in the preliminary oral rounds and present their arguments to human rights experts and judges of international tribunals at the UN headquarters in Geneva. The Moot Court Competition is the largest gathering of students, academics and judges around the theme of human rights in the world. The Competition is open to students around the world. A team of two students from each university – preferably one woman and one man (gender diversity is encouraged) – is invited to participate in the competition.
PODCASTS: In the decades that followed the world body would contribute to the global struggle against apartheid by drawing world attention to the inhumanity of the system, legitimizing popular resistance, promoting anti-apartheid actions by governmental and non-governmental organizations, instituting an arms embargo, and supporting an oil embargo and boycotts of apartheid in many fields. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: “We resolve to move beyond words in the promotion of peaceful, just, inclusive and non‑discriminatory societies,” leaders pledged, as they stressed the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women and youth. Promotion of the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace (2019 – 2028).
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
ACTIONS
On 18 July every year, we invite you to mark Nelson Mandela International Day by making a difference in your communities. Everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better! Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.
Keep an eye out of for the ActNow x Mandela Day challenge – to limit global warming and take care of our planet.
ActNow is the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. Every one of us can help limit global warming and take care of our planet. By changing our habits and making choices that have less harmful effects on the environment, we can tackle the climate emergency and build a more sustainable world.
As Nelson Mandela said, "We must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment."
Download the app and join the challenge (or team)!
PARTNERS
Kahoot! Mandela Quiz
Ahead of Sunday's #MandelaDay, take the Get Kahoot quiz and learn more about the life and legacy of NelsonMandela: Kahoot! >>
In recognition of Nelson Mandela, the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom, UN General Assembly declares 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day. The Resolution A/RES/64/13 recognizes Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity in: conflict resolution; race relations; promotion and protection of human rights; reconciliation; gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups; the fight against poverty; the promotion of social justice. The resolution acknowledges his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.