Mandela’s International day is observed annually on July 18, his birthday, in order to encourage people to join hands, fight against poverty and social injustice, and also promote peace, cultural diversity and reconciliation across the world.
Iran (IMNA) - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, (born July 18, 1918, died December 5, 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and philanthropist who served as the first President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
Nelson Mandela was the first black head of state who was elected in a fully representative democratic election. In this respect, his negotiations in the early 1990s with South African President, F.W. de Klerk helped end the country’s legacy of apartheid system and focused on fostering racial reconciliation. He spent over 27 years in prison and in this sense, the precise dates and locations he spent in confinement are as follows:
19476/62 – Pretoria Local Prison 7 November 1962
11657/63 – Pretoria Local Prison 1963, when he returned to Pretoria after a short spell on Robben Island
466/64 – Robben Island June 1964
220/82 – Pollsmoor Prison March 1982
1335/88 – Victor Verster Prison 7 December 1988
Finally, President F.W. de Klerk released him in 1990 and their efforts resulted in the 1994 multiracial democracy and general election. Moreover, he is a prominent person for being the first black president of South Africa. Globally, Mandela is regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice and respected as a person who emphasized reconciliation between the country’s racial groups. As a symbol of resistance against injustice, he declared: “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. ” (Nelson Mandela, April 20, 1964). In this respect, he received more than 250 honors and regarding the peaceful efforts of Mandela and de Klerk, they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
This day was first celebrated on July 18, 2010 to mark Nelson Mandela’s birth anniversary in order to encourage people to join hands, fight against poverty and social injustice, and also promote peace, cultural diversity and reconciliation across the world.
"It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now." (Nelson Mandela, on his 90th birthday).
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