The U.S. Institute of Peace is honouring Nelson Mandela’s life, work, and passion for peace by
establishing the Nelson Mandela Lecture series. Nelson Mandela embodied much of what the USIP teaches and trains about conflict resolution: an understanding of when and how to negotiate and the courage to assume the ultimate responsibility for peace.
The inaugural Nelson Mandela Lecture took place on February 28 2018. Keynote speaker, former Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress, Cheryl Carolus, said Nelson Mandela’s example calls nations and political elites to examine their failings in providing justice and hope to people worldwide. Carolus said, “Nelson Mandela acted in response to the hurt that apartheid and colonialism inflicted on him. But he understood that his own humanity and his own dignity existed only in the context of humanity and dignity of all of his people and indeed of humankind.”
Further excerpts from Carolus’ keynote speech are available on the USIP site, along with a video recording of the event below.