In recognition of Nelson Mandela’s contributions to democracy, racial justice, and reconciliation, and his service to humanity, the United Nations General Assembly declared 18 July (his birthday) as Nelson Mandela International Day.

Every year since 2010, on 18 July individuals around the world are
encouraged to devote 67 minutes to helping others. The campaign – “Take Action, Inspire Change” – 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 the first democratically elected President of South Africa.

This year, UN staff around the world are once again engaging in public service activities, including in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Zambia.