Press Releases
United Nations Marks Mandela Day with First-Ever Prize and Community Service
23 July 2015, Note to Correspondents - For information media. Not an official record.
United Nations, New York City, 23 July 2015 – The United Nations General Assembly will mark Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) with an informal meeting, including the award of the first-ever UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, on 24 July, recognizing the South African leader’s contributions to democracy, justice and reconciliation and his dedication to the service of humanity.
The two laureates, Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia and H.E. Mr. Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio of Portugal, were officially announced on 22 June by the President of the General Assembly and will be attending the General Assembly meeting on 24 July to receive the Prize.
Speakers at the meeting will include the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda; the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa; the UN Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, Ms. Susana Malcorra; the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo; and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
The Prize was established by the General Assembly in June 2014 to recognize the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity by promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations while honouring and paying homage to Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary life and legacy of reconciliation, political transition, and social transformation.
Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia is an ophthalmologist whose life’s work has been the treatment of blindness and eye-related illnesses, both in Namibia and throughout the developing world.
H.E. Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio of Portugal became a leader in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Portugal, served as Deputy Minister for External Co-operation; as Mayor of Lisbon from 1989 to 1995, and, from 1996 to 2006, as President of the Republic.
“As the UN marks its 70th anniversary, there is no better time to reflect on the life and work of Mr. Mandela, who embodied the highest values of the United Nations,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message on the occasion of Nelson Mandela International Day. “Let us all continue, each day, to draw inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s life-long example and his call to never cease working to build a better world for all.”
Every year, as part of the “Take Action, Inspire Change” campaign on Nelson Mandela International Day, individuals throughout the world are encouraged to devote 67 minutes to helping others — by volunteering in a hospital, tutoring a child, providing food for the homeless, or any other community service activity. The 67-minute campaign is based on people devoting one minute of their time for every year that Nelson Mandela devoted to public service — as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker, and as the President of South Africa.
UN staff volunteers in New York City will partner with NYC Parks’ GreenThumb on 24 July to tend community gardens in Manhattan, lending support to important green spaces in the city.
Some of the UN volunteers will be working in the newly established UN Food Garden, which will be officially opened on 24 July by the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, Ms. Susana Malcorra , the New York City Commissioner for International Affairs, Ms. Penny Abeywardena, and the New York City Commissioner for Parks and Recreation, Mr. Mitchell Silver. The event will be hosted by the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Ms. Cristina Gallach. The UN Food Garden is an initiative of a group of UN staff members who partnered with NYC Parks’ GreenThumb programme and Brooklyn Grange to transform unused land at the United Nations Headquarters complex into sustainable food gardens.
Around the world, United Nations offices are also organizing events in honour of Nelson Mandela.
Background on the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize:
The United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize is an honorary award originally established by General Assembly resolution 68/275 of 6 June 2014. Its statute was approved by General Assembly resolution 69/269 of 2 April 2015. It is presented once every five years as a tribute to the outstanding achievements and contributions of two individuals, one female and one male Laureate, who shall not be selected from the same geographic region.
More information on the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize:
www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/prize
More information on the Laureates of the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize: www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/laureates
Background on Mandela International Day:
In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom. General Assembly resolution 64/13 recognizes Mr. Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups.
To view the live webcast of the General Assembly ceremony starting at 10 a.m. on 24 July: webtv.un.org
To request media accreditation: call +1 212 963 6934 or +1 212 963 6937 or e-mail malu@un.org
More information on the UN Food Garden: www.unfoodgardens.org
For further information, photos, videos, and other resources: www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay
Media contact: UN Department of Public Information: Ms. Martina Donlon, e -mail: donlon@un.org, tel.: +1 (212) 963 6816
President Kutesa announces the winners of the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 22 June 2015 Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly
Helena Ndume, of Namibia, and Jorge Sampaio, of Portugal, are the first ever laureates.
H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the 69th Session of the General Assembly (PGA) has announced that Dr. Helena Ndume, of Namibia, and H.E. Mr. Jorge Sampaio, of Portugal, are the first ever laureates of the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.
The Prize was established in June 2014 by the General Assembly to recognize the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity by promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations while honouring and paying homage to Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary life and legacy of reconciliation, political transition, and social transformation.
The selection Committee entrusted with the responsibility for selecting the winners decided on two laureates as the inaugural laureates of the first ever United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.
Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia is an ophthalmologist whose life’s work has been the treatment of blindness and eye-related illnesses, both in Namibia and throughout the developing world.
H.E. Mr. Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio of Portugal became a leader in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Portugal, served as Deputy Minister for External Co-operation; as Mayor of Lisbon from 1989 to 1995, and, from 1996 to 2006, as President of the Republic.
On behalf of Member States and on his own behalf, President Kutesa warmly congratulates Dr. Ndume and Mr. Sampaio and thanks the selection Committee for its hard work and dedication.
Nominations were received from a broad variety of sources including Member States and Observer States of the United Nations, entities and intergovernmental organizations having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, institutions of higher education, as well as independent research centres and institutes, NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and laureates of the Prize.
Chaired by the President of the General Assembly, the United Nations selection Committee for the Prize this year was composed of the Permanent Representatives of Algeria, Latvia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Sweden, representing the five United Nations geographical regional groups. The Permanent Representative of South Africa was an ex-officio member of the Committee. The UN Department of Public Information served as the secretariat.
The award ceremony will take place on 24 July 2015 at United Nations Headquarters here in New York. It will be part of the annual commemoration by the General Assembly of Nelson Mandela International Day.
United Nations Announces Call for Nominations for Newly Established Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 13 April 2015 – The United Nations is calling for nominations for the 2015 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize. The Prize, newly established, is an honorary award to be presented once every five years as a tribute to the outstanding achievements and contributions of two individuals (one female and one male). The Prize will be awarded in recognition of their dedicated service to humanity, in promotion of reconciliation and social cohesion, and in community development, guided by the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
The laureates will be selected by a United Nations committee chaired by the President of the General Assembly and composed of representatives of six Member States, including representatives from each of the five regional groups and a representative of the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, who will serve as an ex officio member. The UN Department of Public Information will serve as the committee’s secretariat.
Nominations for the 2015 prize will be accepted until 18 May 2015. Details on submission of nominations can be found at: http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/nominations.
It is expected that the laureates will be announced in June 2015 with the first prizes awarded at UN Headquarters in New York during the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July).
See more information about the prize or email mandelaprize@un.org.
Background on the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize: The Prize was originally established by General Assembly resolution 68/275 of 6 June 2014 and its Statute was approved by General Assembly resolution 69/269 of 2 April 2015.
Media contact:UN Department of Public Information: Ms. Martina Donlon, e -mail: donlon@un.org, tel.: +1 (212) 963 6816