UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called on countries of the world to build on Nelson Mandela’s legacy, as the UN honoured the late South African leader at a peace summit on Monday.
This year marks the centenary of the birth of Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison for the struggle against South Africa’s racist apartheid government.
The peace summit also marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
South Africa unveiled a statue of Mandela at UN headquarters in New York to mark the summit, one day before speeches were due to kick off at the annual General Assembly.
“Today, we remember a man of great wisdom, quiet dignity and towering achievement, who worked tirelessly for peace and human dignity for people everywhere,” Guterres said, opening the day-long summit.
“This is our organisation’s purpose and as leaders, it is our responsibility.
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“Let us commit to build on Nelson Mandela’s legacy so that all people everywhere can enjoy peace, prosperity, and inclusive and sustainable development.”
His fight against apartheid “marks a landmark in human rights and freedom,” the UN chief added, thanking the South African government for donating the statue.
A high-level meeting, the Mandala Peace Summit, was scheduled for Monday at the UN for world leaders to renew their commitment to global peace, conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace building, promotion and protection of human rights and long-term development initiatives.
The UN member states decided in December 2017 to hold the meeting to mark the 100th anniversary of Mandela’s birth.
Mandela was born in July 1918 and died five years ago due to a respiratory infection and became the first black president of South Africa.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
