© UN Photo/Milton Grant
Nelson Mandela Photo Gallery
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (left), President of South Africa, enters General Assembly Hall to address its fifty-third session. He is flanked by UN Chief of Protocol, Nadia Younes. © UN Photo/Evan Schneider
"I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all."
Nelson Mandela, Deputy President of the African National Congress of South Africa, addresses the Special Committee Against Apartheid in the General Assembly Hall. © UN Photo/P. Sudhakaran
"I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days."
Nelson Rorihlahla Mandela, President of South Africa, addresses the 49th session of the General Assembly. © UN Photo/Milton Grant
"Our freedom cannot be complete while others in the world are not free."
Mandela's hands, February 2005. © NMF Photo/Matthew Willman
"If I had my time over I would do the same again, so would any man who dares call himself a man."
Mr. Mandela with a child on his lap, talking to her. Taken during meetings about HIV/AIDS in November 2004. © NMF Photo/Oryx Media, Benny Gool
"One way we can build a better future for children is by empowering them through allowing them to speak up for themselves."
Mr. Mandela and Ms. Gra?a Machel with children during a Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund event, August 2007. © NMF Photo/NMCF
"Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation."
Mr. Mandela kissing the hand of a baby. © NMF Photo/Peter Morey
"To the youth of today, I also have a wish to make: Be the script writers of your destiny and feature yourselves as stars that showed the way towards a brighter future."
Mr. Mandela writing, March 2009. © NMF Photo/Matthew Willman
"I had no time to brood. I enjoyed reading and writing letters and that occupied my mind completely, except when I learned of the harsh experiences of my family, that naturally disturbed me."
Nelson Mandela, Deputy President of the African National Congress of South Africa, addresses the Special Committee Against Apartheid in the General Assembly Hall. © UN Photo/ P. Sudhakaran
"The very fact that racism degrades both the perpetrator and the victim commands that, if we are true to our commitment to protect human dignity, we fight on until victory is achieved."
Mandela's fist, March 2009. © NMF Photo/Matthew Willman
"I hoped that life might offer me the opportunity to serve my people and make my own humble contribution to the freedom struggle."
Mr. Mandela, surrounded by children, clapping his hands and 90th birthday cake on the table. © NMF Photo/Juda Ngwenya
"A common touch is of immense advantage, especially on the part of a head of state."
Mr. Mandela addressing women in a room with HIV/AIDS posters, taken during meetings about HIV/AIDS in November 2004. © NMF Photo/Oryx Media, Benny Gool
"Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression."
Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa, speaking at a luncheon given by the Secretary-General in honour of Heads of State or Government attending the 49th session of the General Assembly. © UN Photo/Evan Schneider
"It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build."
Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress, addresses a press conference where he called for a "phased maintenance" of sanctions. © UN Photo/John Isaac
"My friends, let your watchwords be: truth and freedom."
Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress (ANC), casting the ballot in his country's first all-race elections, at Ohlange High School near Durban. © UN Photo/Chris Sattlberger
"We join hands with our neighbors and the peoples of Africa to work for development and peace; for democracy and human rights."
Portrait of Mandela, February 2005. © NMF Photo/Matthew Willman
"We are all human, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic affects us all in the end. If we discard people who are dying from AIDS, then we can no longer call ourselves people."
Mr. Mandela and his daughter Zindzi. Taken during a private meeting in March 2008. © NMF Photo/ Oryx Media
"We watched our children growing without our guidance… and when we did come out, my children said, ‘We thought we had a father and one day he’d come back. But to our dismay, our father came back and he left us alone because he has now become the father of the nation."
Mr. Mandela and his great grandson Ziyanda Manaway, taken on the occasion of the publication of the Children’s Version of Long Walk to Freedom, 2009. © NMF Photo/Debbie Yazbek
"One of the very sad realities today is that very few people, especially young people, read books. Unless we can find imaginative ways of addressing this reality, future generations are in danger of losing their history."
Nelson Mandela, taken on the occasion of the NMCF’s Annual Children’s Celebration and preferred site dedication ceremony for the Establishment of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, July 2009. © NMF Photo/NMCF
"Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworkers can become the head of the mines, that a child of farm workers can become president of a great nation."
Mr. Mandela holds the FIFA World Cup before the start of the 2010 tournament in South Africa. © NMF Photo/Debbie Yazbek
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people, in a way that little else does."
Mr. Mandela’s and baby’s hands. © NMF Photo/Peter Morey
"There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul that the way in which it treats its children."
Portrait of Mr. Mandela. © NMF Photo/Matthew Willman
"Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty."
Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar (right), meets with Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress. 3 December 1991. © UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
"As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest."
President Nelson R. Mandela (left) of South Africa displays a book that he received from Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The book is about the United Nations and its efforts against apartheid. © UN Photo/James Bu
"I am continuing to struggle for human rights."
Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) meets with former South African President Nelson Mandela in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa. 15 March 2006. © UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
"We have pursued the journey to freedom and dignity for all."
Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress (ANC), addresses the Security Council. © UN Photo/Milton Grant
"We shall never forget how millions of people around the world joined us in solidarity to fight the injustice of our oppression while we were incarcerated."
The UN has been involved with the situation in South Africa for more than four decades. It has spearheaded the international campaign against apartheid and initiated and supported programmes aimed at alleviating the suffering of its victims. It has also provided a forum for the representatives of South African organizations such as the African National Congress to advance the anti-apartheid campaign. South Africa held its first all-race elections from April 26 to April 29, 1994. Newly-elected President Nelson Mandela delivering his inaugural address from a balcony of the Townhall. © UN Photo/Chris Sattlberger
"The road we have walked has been built by the contribution of all of us. The tools we have used on that road have been fashioned by all of us. The future we face is that of all of us."
President Nelson R. Mandela of South Africa addressing correspondents at a press conference held at UN Headquarters. © UN Photo/James Bu
"Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference."
Portrait of Mr. Mandela. © NMF Photo/Matthew Willman
"A blind pursuit of popularity has nothing to do with revolution."
Close up of Mr. Mandela’s hand, fingers spread, April 2009. © NMF Photo/Alet van Huyssteen