Mandela – peace advocate

If we remember the trajectory of Nelson Mandela, it is customary for us to be circumscribed to apartheid, whose extinction is, in particular, the only one in the world. one of the indelible marks of his biography. Nevertheless, we can not forget that the extinction of Apartheid was not the only legacy of Mandela's remarkable public life.

Born in South Africa under the Madiba Tribe – hence his nickname – with untimely death. his surviving parent created by the royal family of the Tembu people, whose inheritance rights have resigned to pursue a career as a lawyer. Initiated at the University of Fort Hare – only to accept "people of color" – and passing through the universities of South Africa and Witwatersrand, he interrupted his studies before completing his Bachelor of Laws, which was finalized only after

Founded in 1952 the first law firm in South Africa composed solely of black partners, Mandela & Tambo, dedicated to legal representation for black Africans, who would otherwise be left behind without legal patronage, since the other banks demanded higher fees for their defense, unlike the more moderate amounts charged to white clients. They defended hundreds of people affected by segregationist laws.

Faithful to the defense of freedom and resistance to tyranny, he pronounced on April 20, 1964 his most famous public address (Dock Speech), internationally acclaimed.

With the exception of previous arrests, he was physically separated from social life for about 26 years, of which he spent an incredible 18 years in Robben Island Prison.

The long period of constriction has not calmed the support of the South African people and not even the international community to his person, having been rare in the world, in all forums where the freedom of 39, expression and human rights were subjects

. February 1990, under the presidency of Frederik Willem de Klerk, led negotiations with the latter, culminating in the extinction of apartheid and the peaceful transition to non-racial democracy in South Africa, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

The following year, he won the country's first universal election, having been sworn in in May 1994 as the first multi-ethnic government president. During his long life, he has never defended or perpetrated an act of revenge against the defenders of apartheid and has remained faithful to the preservation of peace, reconciliation and social justice [19659006]. his trip, July 18, date of his internationally celebrated Christmas, the consistency and the example of Madiba are, more than ever, a beacon to follow.