UN Photo/Mark Garten (Left to right) Meghan and Prince Harry, the Duchess and Duke of Sussex; Minister Mondli Gungubele in the Presidency of South Africa; Ambassador Maria Theofili of Greece; Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid; Foreign Minister Morissanda Kouyaté of Guinea; and Mayor Eric Adams of New York City.

NNA News - UN leaders and the State of Palestine on Saturday marked the 17th Nelson Mandela International Day, honouring Mandela’s fight against oppression and his solidarity with the Palestinian people. The commemoration, held under the theme "It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity", saw calls for urgent global action on poverty, inequality and human rights violations affecting millions worldwide.

In a video message posted to the United Nations’ social media channels, UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, as "a towering figure of peace, reconciliation, justice and human rights". Marking the former statesman’s 108th birthday, Guterres said the theme reflected Mandela’s lifelong fight for equality. "This year's theme reminds us that Madiba was a champion of poverty eradication and equality," he said.

On the issue of poverty, Guterres added: "For him, ending poverty was never about charity. He knew it was about justice: a duty that belongs to us all." He warned that the gap was widening. "While millions of people still cannot afford food, water, shelter, or education, wealth is being concentrated in the hands of a few."

Guterres explained that war, economic shocks and climate disasters had undone progress made in combating poverty. To reverse that, he called for "greater investment in decent work, universal health coverage, quality education and social protection systems". The UN chief also reiterated an appeal for reform of the international financial system so that developing countries can access financing and debt relief.

In closing, Guterres said Mandela’s life kept inspiring him. "His belief was simple, that when people stand together, nothing is impossible. The future is in our hands. Today and every day, let's carry forward Mandela's vision of a just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world," he stressed.

Other senior UN officials also marked the day. In a separate social media post, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed revisited Nelson Mandela’s 1998 address to the United Nations General Assembly, linking his words to the UN’s ongoing responsibility to deliver peace, prosperity and dignity.

Posting on X, she highlighted one line from that speech. Mandela said, "The millions across our globe who stand expectant at the gates of hope look to the UN to bring them peace, to bring them prosperity and to bring them a life of dignity." Mohammed wrote, "On #MandelaDay, I am reminded of these words by Madiba in his address to the General Assembly and of the hope the UN carries: to listen, to act and to deliver for the people we serve."

The State of Palestine also used the occasion to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, highlighting his support for liberation movements around the world, including the Palestinian struggle. "On Nelson Mandela International Day, we honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, who stood by the oppressed everywhere and championed their rights anywhere, including the struggle of the Palestinian people against apartheid, racial segregation, racism, and discrimination," the statement said.

The Palestinian statement added: "From Apartheid South Africa to Apartheid Israel, the struggle for dignity, human rights, and justice continues." It also recalled Mandela’s well-known quote on Palestine: "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians."

Mandela expressed solidarity with Palestinians throughout his political life. In 1997, while serving as South Africa’s first democratic president, he drew parallels between South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and the Palestinian pursuit of self-determination, describing both as part of a broader fight for freedom. During a 1999 visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, he described ties between his political party, the African National Congress (ANC), and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as "longstanding fraternal bonds between our two liberation movements".

Addressing the Palestinian Legislative Council during an official meeting on the sidelines of the trip, the then South African head of state acknowledged the difficulties of the Palestinian struggle. "We too witnessed long and terrible delays, sacrifice of comrades and intense frustration," Mandela said. He appealed to Palestinians to remain steadfast, adding that attempts to undermine the peace process had only strengthened their resolve. "In the end we found our resolve strengthened by these attempts to undermine the peace process," he explained.

Mandela added that the goal of the peace process should be "democracy, freedom and justice" and that the establishment of a state grounded in human rights and economic development is important. During the same visit, he also called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Arab territories as part of a negotiated settlement.

Nelson Mandela International Day is observed each year on July 18, Mandela’s birthday. The United Nations designated the day to recognise his contribution to peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights, encouraging people worldwide to dedicate 67 minutes to community service in his honour.