Secretary-General's remarks on Nelson Mandela International Day [as delivered].

Today, we commemorate the lifetime of service Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and to the world.

We pay tribute to an extraordinary global advocate for dignity and equality, and one of the most iconic and inspirational leaders of our time.

Nelson Mandela exemplified courage, compassion, forgiveness and commitment to freedom, peace and social justice.

He lived by these principles and was prepared to sacrifice his liberty and even his life for them.

Madiba's call for social cohesion and a culture of peace are particularly relevant today, with hate speech casting a growing shadow around the world.

Last month, I launched the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech to coordinate United Nations efforts to identify, prevent and confront this shameful phenomenon, which is progressively infecting mainstream discourse.

And, in response to recent attacks on places of worship, I have also asked my team to develop an action plan to help safeguard religious sites.

As we work collectively for peace, stability, sustainable development and human rights for all, we would be well served to recall the example set by Nelson Mandela.

In this building last year, at the September Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, nearly 100 Heads of State and Government, along with ministers, Member States and civil society representatives, committed to intensify efforts to build a just, peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and fair world.

The gathering declared 2019 to 2028 as the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace, saluting Mr. Mandela for his humility, forgiveness and compassion, acknowledging his contribution to the struggle for democracy and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.

As we...