Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[Mr. Nelson Mandela]
Distinguished President of the International Labour Conference,
Director-General of the ILO,
Honourable delegates and observers,
ladies and gentlemen:
It is a matter of great honour to us
that we are able to address this august body,
which is one of the most representative institutions
within the United Nations system.
We thank you most sincerely
for your invitation
which we believe was inspired by your commitment
to the struggle to end the evil system of apartheid.
Let me assure you
that despite the thickness of the prison walls,
all of us in Robben Island and other jails
could hear your voices demanding our release very clearly.
We drew inspiration from this.
I knew from the very first day of our incarceration
that in the end
it would prove impossible for the apartheid system
to keep us in its dungeons.
We thank you
that you refused to forget us.
We thank you
that you did not tire in your struggle.
We thank you for your sense of humanity
and your commitment to justice
which drove you to reject the very idea
that we should be imprisoned
and that our people should be in bondage.
History will surely recall
that there are very few other issues
which united humanity
as much as did the opposition of the nations to the apartheid crime against humanity.
The actions that the international community
took to express its revulsion against this crime
are part of the equation of struggle
which has taken us to the moment of hope and confidence
which we have reached today.
In this context,
we would like to take this opportunity
to salute the ILO
for its enormous contribution to our common struggle.
The actions you took
which resulted in the withdrawal of South Africa from the ILO
a quarter of a century ago,
and what you have done since then,
are important elements in the common efforts of all humanity
to isolate and by this means
destroy the system of apartheid.
We are going to require your continued political and material assistance
with regard to all these matters
as well as our continuing struggle.
I think we are safe in assuming
that the ILO will not fail us.
I say this
because you have already established a tradition of assistance
to and co-operation with us,
which we are certain will continue.
We want to build a system of co-operation
with all nations
so that the liberated South Africa itself
becomes a force of peace,
friendship and social progress throughout the world.
We believe that our people of all colours,
with all their talents and genius,
have an important contribution to make to the realisation of this universal objective.
This once more underlines
the urgency with which we have to move
to get rid of the apartheid system
which makes this international intercourse impossible.
Mr. President, and dear friends,
thank you very much for receiving us with such warmth.
Thank you very much for listening to us
with such kind attention.
Let us walk the last mile together.
Let us together turn into reality
the glorious vision of a South Africa free of racism.
Free of racial antagonisms among our people.
No longer a threat to peace.
No longer the skunk of the world.
Our common victory is certain.
Thank you.