Mary Robinson delivers tenth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture
- By Jack Preston -
- Aug 07, 2012
Mary Robinson, of The Elders, this week delivered the Tenth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Cape Town.
Speaking frankly about the challenges South Africa faces, from crime and corruption to extremes of wealth and poverty, Robinson expressed her faith in the ability of young democracy to address its problems and continue the process of transformation that has so inspired the wider world.
“When I was invited to deliver the Tenth Nelson Mandela Foundation Lecture, I felt daunted both by the honour of marking with you the Tenth Anniversary here in this historic Town Hall of Cape Town, and by the distinguished list of speakers who have gone before. I would like to thank the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, although I must say they have posed quite a challenge for me,” Robinson told the watching audience.
“I feel a great connection to South Africa. Next only to my native country, Ireland, this is the country I have most grown to love: for its historic victory over the evil of Apartheid and its promise of a ‘Rainbow Nation’; for producing two great moral giants of my lifetime, Nelson Mandela – Madiba himself – and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who chairs the group of Elders to which I belong.”
If you’d like to learn more about the lecture, or more about their work, visit The Elders website.
By Jack Preston. Senior Content Executive. Tweets at @JackPressedOn
