UN-SG, Ban Ki-imoon on Q&A and Statement about Nelson Mandela
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SG: When I met him in his residence, I was deeply touched and moved and inspired by what he said. When I praised him for his lifelong contributions and struggle to end apartheid, he said that, no, it’s not only me – there are hundreds and hundreds of known, unknown people, who have contributed to the ending of apartheid. I was so touched. It [has] stuck [with] me since then – the sense of human decency, such humility and humbleness, such a great man of the world who was saying that it was not only him, that there were known and unknown, hundreds and hundreds of people. He repeated this two, three times. Then, I again in the course of my dialogue, I told him, well, President Mandela, we are grateful for your contribution, for [your]
lifelong contribution to make this world
just and to end apartheid.
He said again, repeated same thing, no, it’s not only me. There are hundreds and hundreds of known and unknown people who made this happen. That was a moment of deep inspiration for me. This is [something] I’m still keeping, and I’ve been speaking to many of our colleagues – look, this is what such a great man said. This is really a sense of human decency and humility, and I’m deeply grateful for what he has left during his lifetime to make this world just and fair and equal for everybody. Thank you.
Q: Is there any single message that Nelson Mandela has made throughout the years that run particularly true with you and that you think applies today in Africa and throughout the rest of the world? Because one of the things he often said was that the whole cause of freedom was still a work in progress.
SG: Africa and many countries in the world during the last century and many centuries before have suffered from this colonial rule and abuse and violations of human rights and human dignity. Only because of such great men like Nelson Mandela is it possible that, particularly people in Africa and elsewhere, are able to enjoy freedom and human dignity. But I’m still very much humbled. If we think [of the] current state of the world, where still many people, particularly vulnerable groups, women and girls, particularly in conflict areas, whose human rights are totally abused and violated, we have to learn from the wisdom and determination and commitment of President Mandela to make this world better for all. That is why I really wanted to express my deepest admiration and respect to President Mandela and the people of South Africa and all people of Africa. Thank you very much. Thank you.
He said again, repeated same thing, no, it’s not only me. There are hundreds and hundreds of known and unknown people who made this happen. That was a moment of deep inspiration for me. This is [something] I’m still keeping, and I’ve been speaking to many of our colleagues – look, this is what such a great man said. This is really a sense of human decency and humility, and I’m deeply grateful for what he has left during his lifetime to make this world just and fair and equal for everybody. Thank you.
Q: Is there any single message that Nelson Mandela has made throughout the years that run particularly true with you and that you think applies today in Africa and throughout the rest of the world? Because one of the things he often said was that the whole cause of freedom was still a work in progress.
SG: Africa and many countries in the world during the last century and many centuries before have suffered from this colonial rule and abuse and violations of human rights and human dignity. Only because of such great men like Nelson Mandela is it possible that, particularly people in Africa and elsewhere, are able to enjoy freedom and human dignity. But I’m still very much humbled. If we think [of the] current state of the world, where still many people, particularly vulnerable groups, women and girls, particularly in conflict areas, whose human rights are totally abused and violated, we have to learn from the wisdom and determination and commitment of President Mandela to make this world better for all. That is why I really wanted to express my deepest admiration and respect to President Mandela and the people of South Africa and all people of Africa. Thank you very much. Thank you.
SECRETARY-GENERAL’S STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF NELSON MANDELA
Nelson Mandela was a singular figure on the global stage -- a man of quiet dignity and towering achievement, a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration.
I am profoundly saddened by his passing. On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of South Africa and especially to Nelson Mandela’s family and loved ones.
Many around the world were greatly influenced by his selfless struggle for human dignity, equality and freedom. He touched our lives in deeply personal ways. At the same time, no one did more in our time to advance the values and aspirations of the United Nations.
Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of his people and humanity, and he did so at great personal sacrifice. His principled stance and the moral force that underpinned it were decisive in dismantling the system of apartheid.
Remarkably, he emerged from 27 years of detention without rancor, determined to build a new South Africa based on dialogue and understanding. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission established under his leadership remains a model for achieving justice in societies confronting a legacy of human rights abuses.
In the decades-long fight against apartheid, the United Nations stood side-by-side with Nelson Mandela and all those in South Africa who faced unrelenting racism and discrimination. His 1994 address to the General Assembly as the first democratically elected President of a free South Africa was a defining moment. The Assembly has declared 18 July, his birthday, “Nelson Mandela International Day”, an annual observance on which we recognize and seek to build on his contributions to promoting a culture of peace and freedom around the world.
I was privileged to meet Nelson Mandela in 2009. When I thanked him for his life’s work, he insisted the credit belonged to others. I was very moved by his selflessness and deep sense of shared purpose.
Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us -- if we believe, dream and work together.
Let us continue each day to be inspired by his lifelong example and his call to never cease working for a better and more just world.
New York, 5 December 2013
