By Margaux D’Orlando-Dubois[1]
FBA UN Reporter
July 27, 2020
The President of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Band opened this informal meeting with an historic reminder that Nelson Mandela International Day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009. First held on July, 18, 2010, to honor Mandela’s legacy and unique contribution to the service of humanity, including promotion of freedom, justice, democracy, human rights, and gender equality. The day also honors his extensive work in the field of conflict prevention, reconciliation, and the promotion of culture of peace throughout the world. As President Muhammad-Band noted, ““Nelson Mandela provided a world’s moral compass.” He then took a moment to honor the memory of Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Zindzi Mandela, who had passed away earlier that month. Two individuals, a man, and a women, were awarded prizes in recognition of their outstanding achievements in service of humanity particularly in promotion of reconciliation, social coalition and community development. This year’s recipients are Ms. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis of Greece and Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté of Guinea.
The Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. António Guterres, took the floor and, quoting Mandela, stated, “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” He highlighted the continuous fight for human rights where the pandemic is striking everyone, especially those most vulnerable. He promoted Mandela’s idea of a new social contract to foster unity, economic social justice and respect human rights for the future generations where no one should be a prisoner of conscience.
Next, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and co-recipient of the 2020 Mandela Award, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, shared some key moments about her life during Greece’s civil war, and then while in exile in Europe. For more than 30 years, she has been fighting against childhood cancer, helping thousands of children to be cured, and following her motto, “it is worth fighting for even one child’s life.” She hopes for a world without borders for childcare. She recognized Mandela as a great source of inspiration, and and a role model embodying humanism, peace and human rights.
Co-recipient of the 2020 Mandela Award, Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté reminded us of the protests in Africa, fighting for the freedom of Mandela and going to South Africa to walk in his footsteps. As a young doctor in the 70’s he had to face the death of two genitally mutilated girls of 12 years old. He decided then and there to fight those types of crimes. He dedicated this prize to his mother and all those that had helped him during his career. He closed by asking all the UN representatives to help him in turning this prize into concrete action to fight genital mutilation of girls.
Next, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, J. Phillip Thompson, took the floor to congratulate the award recipients on behalf of the Mayor Bill de Blasio and all New Yorkers. As Mandela reminded us that “We are all part of the same human family,” he connected this to today’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. If “education is the key transformation for the future” as Mandela stated, Thompson pointed out the difficulty of enforcing health measures while experts have been discredited regarding climate change warnings. He denounced powerfuls groups and political forces which had defied science to let their personal interests or ideas prevail over the truth of equality of men. He referenced the Black Lives Matter movement that had spread all over the world as having been inspired, in part, by Mandela’s struggle.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, H.E. Ms. Naledi Pandor, took the floor, noting new generation must pursue the fight for humanity following in Nelson Mandela’s footsteps. Nowadays, the values of cooperation and multilateralism are even more necessary to fight the pandemic which calls for a global socio-economic response. While the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement echoes Nelson Mandela’s fight against racism, she called on the UN to revisit its work on the area of racism. She concluded her statement by calling for the UN to pursue Mandela’s values and qualities.
Finally, the Chair of the regional groups congratulated the 2020 recipients, recognized Mandela’s achievements and called on everyone to follow its lead and embrace Mandela’s path for human rights in these troubled days. Congressman John Lewis was also honored at this occasion, as another model in the fight for humanity, and who met and respected Nelson Mandela.
The event concluded with a presentation by the UN Chamber Music Society to mark Nelson Mandela International Day.
[1] Margaux D’Orlando-Dubois is an LL.M. Graduate in International Dispute Resolution at Fordham Law School. She will be seating for the New York bar examination in February 2021.