United Nations, New York.- The UN General Assembly at its 73rd period of session welcomes on Monday the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, in which more than 140 speakers, including high statesmen, are expected to attend.

The adoption of a political declaration in honor of the values and life of Nelson Mandela is expected at the end of the event.

The period from 2019 to 2028 will also be announced as the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace and there will be an appeal to all member states to redouble efforts to pursue international peace and security, and respect human rights.

The summit, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the anti-apartheid fighter, seeks to move the reflection on world peace and the need for greater commitment about this issue.

Mandela made great contributions to the struggle for democracy at international level and promoted a culture of peace throughout the world: his qualities of humility, forgiveness and compassion, his values and dedication to the service of humanity are examples.

This is how the organizers of the Peace Summit stand out and advocate for greater commitment to build a just, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world.

They also exhort to revive the values for which Mandela fought and placed human dignity at the center of our actions.

Today’s meeting will be an opportunity for the UN member states to reaffirm their commitment to defend the sovereign equality of all countries, respect for their territorial integrity and independence, and the duty to abstain from the threat or the use of force.

The resolution of conflicts by peaceful means and the protection of the most vulnerable groups will be other issues to be addressed at the summit, in which Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, will give a keynote speech, the first one at the multilateral organization.

On July 18, day of the birth of Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called to celebrate the life and achievements of ‘one of the greatest leaders of our time.’