The U.N. General Assembly on Friday celebrated the inaugural "Nelson Mandela International Day" with tributes to the South African anti-apartheid leader's moral leadership and lifelong commitment to fighting racial oppression and promoting peace.
The 192-member world body, in a rare action, approved a resolution last November authorizing the commemoration of Mandela's birthday — July 18 — every year to recognize the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's contribution to resolving conflicts and promoting race relations, human rights and reconciliation.
At Friday's U.N. commemoration — held two days early because Mandela's birthday this year falls on Sunday — General Assembly President Ali Abdessalam Treki called Mandela "an icon" and "one of the greatest moral and political leaders of our time." He called in a statement for the international community to mark the day by stepping up the fight "for social equality and justice and the pursuit of peace through dialogue".
