Nelson Mandela

18 July 1918 – 05 December 2013

The Socialist International Women (SIW) was deeply saddened by the death of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and Nobel Peace Prize winner. We would like to send our wholehearted condolences to Nelson Mandela’s family, to everyone at the African National Congress (ANC) and to the South African people who have lost their ‘father of the nation’.

Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to all generations all over the world. He worked unwaveringly to free his country from racial division and dedicated his life to his people and to the causes of justice, freedom and equality for all.

Mandela also worked ardently to end gender oppression and was a champion of women’s rights. When elected president of South Africa, he appointed over one-third of women to his cabinet, many of those women went on to occupy even higher positions, and today have become role models for many other women politicians all over the world.

Our thoughts are with the ANC and with the South African people in this sad day of the passing of an extraordinary leader and a man of greatness, peace, humility and compassion.