A new stamp of Nelson Mandela is unveiled during a United Nations General Assembly event on the occasion of Mandela Day at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 18, 2018. (Photo/China News Service)
(ECNS) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the world to draw inspiration from former South African President Nelson Mandela to build a better future at a UN General Assembly event on the occasion of Nelson Mandela International Day on Wednesday.
"Today, as in every Mandela Day, we honor Madiba's memory by calling on people around the world to make a difference, as he did," said Guterres, who had met Mandela several times.
"He understood that we each have in our hands the ability to create a better world -- a world where people are treated equally and fairly, regardless of race, faith or gender," he said.
Mandela stands today as a beacon of universal values -- peace, forgiveness, humility, integrity, passion, respect and service, said Guterres. "Madiba showed us that these are not just words or vague ideals, but concrete actions that we can all take. We can all be humble and respectful, we can all forgive, we can all work to make the world more peaceful."
Mandela Day, or Nelson Mandela International Day, has been marked every year on Mandela’s birthday, July 18. Mandela died in December 2013 at the age of 95. This year marks the centenary of Mandela.
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