International Day of Nelson Mandela

On July 18, 2012, Head of the Department of African countries Bogatyreva E.G., director of the Center for African Studies, Ph.D. Yurtaev V.I., and the Peoples' Friendship University post-graduate students participated in a roundtable on the International Day of Nelson Mandela, organized by the UN Information Centre in Moscow in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Russia. In November 2009 the UN General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Nelson Mandela for July 18, in recognition of the contribution of the former president of South Africa in peace and freedom. This move reflected the widespread international recognition of the role played by this major political figure in the settlement of inter-racial relations, to overcome the inequalities of distribution and protection of human rights, the advancement of the poorest and underdeveloped social groups, as well as to facilitate the processes of democratization and peace on the planet.