Nelson Mandela: A voice and moral force for children

In his own words, "simply a retired pensioner," Mr. Nelson Mandela is internationally recognized as a voice for freedom, justice and human rights. He will attend the United Nations Special Session on Children as a special guest of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and as one of the inspirational leaders of the the Global Movement for Children and the 'Say Say Yes for Children' campaign.

Mr. Mandela brings a message of urgency - born of his commitment to the rights of children - to his meetings with heads of state and children and young people. In launching the Global Movement with Mrs. Graça Machel in May 2000, they co-authored a letter to the people of the world which said, "We cannot waste our precious children. Not another one, not another day. It is long past time for us to act on their behalf."

He was among the first of scores of world leaders to take the 'Say Yes' pledge: "I believe that children everywhere have the right to grow to adulthood in health, peace and dignity." And he was instrumental in leading others to take part in one of the largest global campaigns of its kind. The 10 point rallying call of the campaign is now at the core of many Special Session activities.

Mr. Mandela will formally receive the results of the year-long global Say Yes campaign - more than 94 million pledges - from children in a special ceremony at the end of the Children's Forum. And, in turn, he will present the pledges to the General Assembly at the start of a festive "Celebration of leadership" on Thursday 9 May.

This fulfills a promise made to the children and young people in The State of the World's Children 2001 report: "I will work every day in every way to support you as you grow. I will seek out your voices and your opinions and I will have others hear them too."

Mr. Nelson Mandela is from the royal family of the Thembu, part of the Xhosa ethnic group in South Africa. He is the former President of South Africa, the first black president of a democratic South Africa and a co-winner of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in dismantling apartheid. He is an active leader of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, speaking, writing and advocating for the rights of children everywhere.