UN Secretary‑General Calls for Global Poverty Action on Mandela Day

On July 18 2026, United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres marked Nelson Mandela International Day by urging governments and citizens worldwide to honour Mandela’s legacy through concrete actions against poverty and inequality. He highlighted the day’s theme – “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity” – and described Mandela as a champion of poverty eradication and justice.

Guterres called for building fair economies and inclusive societies by investing in decent work, universal health coverage, quality education and social protection. He also advocated for increased financing for developing countries, reforms to the international financial architecture, debt relief, and a shift toward renewable‑energy‑driven economies.

The Secretary‑General stressed that widening inequality and stalled progress, exacerbated by conflict, economic shocks and climate disasters, require collective global action.