Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day celebrated on 18 July, Mandela's birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18 July 2009. The 46664 concerts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation invited the global community to join them in supporting an official Mandela Day. Mandela Day is not meant as a public holiday but as a day to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela and his values through volunteering and community service. The campaign message is "Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We're asking you to start with 67 minutes." To mark the first global celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July 2009, a series of educational, art exhibit, fund-raising, and volunteer events were organized by the 46664 concerts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. In 2014, the UN General Assembly established the Nelson Mandela Prize, a quinquennial award recognising the achievements of those who dedicated their lives to the service of humanity.
November 2009 - in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom, UN General Assembly declares 18 July "Nelson Mandela International Day". Resolution A/RES/64/13 recognizes Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity in: conflict resolution; race relations; promotion and protection of human rights; reconciliation; gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups; the fight against poverty; the promotion of social justice. The resolution acknowledges his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
