18 July 2013 © UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré
2020 Commemorative Events
UN General Assembly Meeting — NYC/Virtual
UN Headquarters & Virtual, 20 July —
Programme 
of the annual observance and recognition of the Mandela Prize laureates (Provisional)
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual commemoration was marked virtually. The event was attended by the 2020 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize laureates, Mrs. Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece and Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté of Guinea.
Speakers:
- H.E. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (President of the General Assembly)
- H.E. Mr. António Guterres (UN Secretary-General)
- Representative of the City of New York
- H.E. Ms. Naledi Pandor (Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa)
- Chairpersons of regional groups:
- Burkina Faso (on behalf of the African States)
- Cyprus (on behalf of the Asia-Pacific States)
- Estonia (on behalf of the Eastern European States)
- Saint Lucia (on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States)
- Israel (on behalf of the Western European and other States)
- The United States (as host country)
Resources
Messages and press releases:
- Secretary-General's Message for 2020
- GA President’s Remarks
- Secretary-General's Remarks
- Statement by the President of the General Assembly and Chair of the UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize (2020 Mandela Prize) Committee (announcement of the 2020 laureates)
- Remarks by Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, 2020 Mandela Prize Laureate
- Remarks by Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté, 2020 Mandela Prize Laureate (FR)
- Press release - General Assembly Honours Historic South African Leader with Announcement of United Nations Mandela Prize Laureates
Multimedia:
- Webcast of the GA informal meeting 01:12:57 >>
- Video clip: Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (GA President) congratulates the 2020 Mandela Prize Winners 00:01:29 >>
- Video clip: UN Chamber Music Society concert marks Nelson Mandela International Day 00:36:34 >>
- Secretary-General's annual Nelson Mandela Lecture (18 July)
- Nelson Mandela online exhibit
- Kahoot ! interactive quiz
- Africa Renewal — Mandela Prize awarded to Greek and Guinean rights activists
- UN News story — Mandela Prize awarded to Greek and Guinean rights activists
- UN Chronicle — Nelson Mandela and Black Lives
- UNESCO — Marianna Vardinoyannis is awarded the esteemed 2020 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize
Tackling Inequality
A New Social Contract for a New Era
This year, coinciding with the date of the Nelson Mandela International Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers the 18th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at 9:00 a.m. EDT (18 July).
In his speech, "Tackling the Inequality Pandemic: A New Social Contract for a New Era," the Secretary-General takes aim at the various layers of inequality that are being exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.