Price and Power of Freedom: Honouring Mandela’s Legacy

The General Assembly’s Plenary meeting on Nelson Mandela International Day.

The United Nations celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day in honour of the activist and politician’s lifelong commitment to peace and democracy.

At the 16th celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, delegates, representatives, and visitors reflected on the impact of South Africa’s first black president and leader in a fully representative democratic election.

The activist and politician, who spent 27 years in prison, was a staunch freedom fighter—arguing that freedom was not only an individual mission but also a collective responsibility and communal effort.

These principles were enshrined in the Nelson Mandela Rules, officially called the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, a document protecting humane treatment of individuals deprived of liberty. The document emphasises respect for human dignity, prohibits torture, and promotes fair and just conditions.

Although the Nelson Mandela Rules are “soft law” and not legally binding, the General Assembly has adopted them as universally agreed minimum standards. Many countries have incorporated the rules into domestic law, but many others have violated conditions related to healthcare, solitary confinement, and ethical working rights. Delegates and various speakers agreed that there is still much work to be done.

Nelson Mandela International Day, established in 2009 by the United Nations General Assembly and officially celebrated in 2010 on 18 July (President Mandela’s birthday), encourages all citizens worldwide to engage positively in their communities.

From annual volunteer events to the annual Mandela Prize, awarded to two laureates each year who have profoundly impacted their communities by serving humanity, speakers—including the award recipients, the Secretary-General, and the chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation—reflected on Mandela’s legacy in their own lives and on the UN.

In his remarks to the General Assembly at their plenary meeting, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Power is not a personal possession to be harboured. Power is about lifting others up; it’s about what we can achieve with one another and for one another. Power is about people.” He echoed Mandela’s belief in collective grassroots action to deliver power to the powerless, encouraging member states to put these principles into practice.

Dr Naledi Pandor, chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, similarly called for action against injustice and inequality. She recalled how the United Nations aided South Africa in ending apartheid by “standing against apartheid domination, not through arms but through bringing its undeniable moral weight into combat against injustice. That boldness, that courage is needed more and more today.”

Pandor also recalled Mandela’s political views beyond South Africa—his demand for global equity extended to all. Reflecting on how he might feel about the current state of the world, she quoted his 1990 speech to the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid:

Mandela said, “We also take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to all others who fight for their liberation and their human rights, including the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara. We commend their struggles to you, convinced that we are all moved by the fact that freedom is indivisible, convinced that the denial of the rights of one diminishes the freedom of others.”

Mandela was a strong supporter of Palestine, often comparing its struggle with South Africa’s. South Africa, even after his death, maintained close ties to Palestine and brought the case of genocide against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024.

The 2025 Nelson Mandela laureates, Brenda Reynolds of Saulteaux First Nation, Canada, and Kennedy Odede of Kenya, both spoke about how Mandela inspired their work. Reynolds, a social worker, led the establishment of a national, culturally grounded mental health initiative for survivors of Indian residential schools.

Reynolds described her work with survivors as an example of Mandela’s notion of moving forward from resentment towards progress—as people found peace with their experiences, they were able to recover and lift their communities from oppression. She described this as a process of peacebuilding within people, saying, “Peace begins with individuals, and from there, you can find peace within your family and your communities.”

Odede, who founded Kenya’s largest grassroots movement, Shining Hope For Communities (SHOFCO), to empower struggling urban communities, shared how Mandela’s words and experience with struggle inspired him to build within his own life. He found creative ways to organise communities around simple things like soccer, providing hope to people in dire situations.

The representative for The Gambia, speaking on behalf of African states, called upon the UN to adhere to Mandela’s principles, particularly on poverty as a man-made horror that can and must be removed by human action. The representative warned of extreme poverty on the rise, centring on “developing countries and middle-income countries” suffering the most “with unemployment rates beyond records.”

He said, “It is time for solidarity, partnerships, and genuine actions where they are most needed,” asserting that poverty and underdevelopment are huge perpetuators of racism, thus continuing a vicious cycle that oppresses people.

The representative argued, “Rising inequity and progressive discrimination are not inevitable; they result from decades of policies and dynamics emanating from colonialism, appetite, and discrimination.” Criticising these practices as misaligned with the UN Charter, he urged the UN to renew its commitment to social development by redistributing wealth.

As the world commemorates Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy, the message from this year’s observance is clear: his vision of freedom—rooted in dignity, justice, and collective responsibility—demands more than remembrance; it requires action. From prison reform to poverty alleviation, indigenous healing, and grassroots empowerment, Mandela’s ideals continue to challenge the global community to uphold humanity over power and compassion over indifference.

In honouring his life, the UN and its member states are reminded that freedom is not static—it is a continual struggle, a shared pursuit, and a moral obligation.