Dear Speech Repository Users,
In 2009, the United Nations proclaimed Mandela’s birthday, 18 July, Nelson Mandela International Day. On this day, people are encouraged to spend 67 minutes doing something good for others - inspired by the 67 years Nelson Mandela spent working towards change.
Here are some interesting facts about Nelson Mandela’s life:
- Nelson Mandela was President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black President of South Africa, and the first president to be elected in a fully representative election.
- Nelson Mandela's government focused on dismantling the Apartheid government in the country, which had imposed racial segregation enforced by law.
- At university, Mandela studied law and became one of South Africa’s first black lawyers.
- In the 1950s, he was elected leader of the youth wing of the African National Congress (ANC) liberation movement.
- Mandela was imprisoned from 1962 to 1990 for treason and conspiracy against the government. He was sentenced to life in prison, but was released after 27 years when the ANC was legalised again.
- While he was in prison, Mandela served as a symbol to the oppressed in South Africa who were fighting for their rights.
- Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for peacefully ending the Apartheid regime and laying the foundations for democracy. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, he received more than 250 other awards.
On this occasion, we encourage you to check out the following speeches:
(ES) Política y literatura | Speech Repository (europa.eu) – Find out how the writer Henning Mankell used the motif of apartheid in his literary works.
(CS) Chudoba jako turistická atrakce | Speech Repository (europa.eu) – Learn more about how tourists are attracted to developing countries or deprived areas previously affected by apartheid.
If you are interested in the topic of equality and security, check out the following speeches:
(EN) Education | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
(FR) L'égalité entre les hommes et les femmes | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
(EN) CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
(EN) Nigeria and the Security Council | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
(EN) Press conference with Josep BORRELL | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
If you would like to learn more about the Nobel Prize and how it is awarded, practise with the following speeches:
(SL) Nobelove nagrade | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
(EN) Nobel Peace Prize | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
(SK) Nobelova cena | Speech Repository (europa.eu)
Happy practising!