2023 Nelson Mandela Day Public Lecture

On the occasion of the 2023 Nelson Mandela Day and in line with the 10th year of his passing, the South African Embassy in the Philippines and the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in cooperation with the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights (UP IHR), Office of International Linkages Diliman (OIL), and UP Department of Political Science (UP DPS), held a public forum entitled “The Legacy Lives On Through You” on 21 July 2023 at the Malcolm Theater, College of Law, UP Diliman.

Her Excellency Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Philippines, delivered the forum’s keynote lecture. In her speech, Ambassador Radebe-Netshitenzhe recounted the life of Nelson Mandela, and how he struggled to liberate the people of South Africa from discrimination and injustice. She specifically narrated how Mandela’s upbringing, and education helped form his political ideologies and resolve to fight against apartheid. She likewise underlined the relevance of Mandela’s wisdom and vision to today’s world, especially in the context of climate change, global pandemic, and geopolitics. Her Excellency also addressed how the raging war between Ukraine and Russia, rising tensions in the South China Sea, and racial segregation in Palestine pose a serious threat to the whole of humanity.

Guests, attendees, and participants to the forum were welcomed by UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II. In his speech, Chancellor Vistan underlined Mandela’s contribution to inspiring the youth and how his fight for equality and justice shaped the world. UP IHR’s Law Reform Specialist Atty. Daniel D. Lising, M.D., and UP DPS Assistant Professor Te-Anne Robles, Ph.D. gave their reactions to Ambassador Radebe-Netshitenzhe’s lecture. Dr. Robles discussed Mandela’s influence on South Africa’s contemporary foreign policy built on the principles of consensus-building, justice, inclusion, and multilateralism. Meanwhile, Atty. Lising emphasized Mandela’s contribution to the promotion and protection of universal human rights. He centered on Mandela’s view on oppression and the value of his wisdom to mankind’s pursuit of equal rights to education and food security.

Five (5) Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and members of the Diplomatic Corps attended the event, namely, H. E. Betty Palaso, Papua New Guinea; H. E. Saleh As’ad Saleh Mohammad, Palestine; H. E. Ahmed Shehabeldin Ibrahim Abdullah, Egypt; H.E. Agus Widjojo, Indonesia; H. E. Christian Halaas Lyster, Norway; and Deputy Chief of Mission Hon. Andrea Silvina Repetti, Argentina; Charge d’ Affaires Ms. P.G.P. Kaushalya, Sri Lanka; Second Secretary Mr. Igor da Motta Magallanes Carneiro, Brazil; Charge d’ Affaires Mr. Richard Gregorio Espinoza Lobo, Venezuela; Charge d’ Affaires Mr. Amin Javadi, Iran; Charge d’ Affaires Mr. Mohamed M. O. Melad, Libya; and Charge d’Affaires Mr. Dalibor Micka, Czech Republic.

UP DPS Associate Professor Jan Robert R. Go served as the forum’s master of ceremony while UP IHR’s Senior Legal Associate Atty. Raymond Marvic Baguilat introduced the keynote speaker. UP Diliman’s faculty members and students likewise participated in an open forum where issues about racial injustice in a broader geopolitical context and remembering were discussed.