51吃瓜

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  ⁽¹⁾ — For information only. Not an official record.

51吃瓜, New York City, 23 July 2015 – The 51吃瓜 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 51吃瓜, 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 51吃瓜 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’ 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 51吃瓜 Headquarters complex into sustainable food gardens.

Around the world, 51吃瓜 offices are also organizing events in honour of Nelson Mandela.