CCFD-Terre Solidaire: Farewell Nelson Mandela – CIDSE

CCFD-Terre Solidaire: Farewell Nelson Mandela

Madiba has left us! All associates and volunteers of CCFD-Terre Solidaire are deeply saddened by the passing away of Nelson Mandela and express their sincere condolences to the South African people who, we are sure, will sorely miss him.

Freedom fighter, Head of State, Nelson Mandela contributed to freeing Africa from apartheid and restoring dignity to a large part of Humanity. His ideal of a democratic and multiracial society, which would also be protective of the weak, has lit a fire in the hearts of anti-apartheid activists.

CCFD-Terre Solidaire, would also like to express its deepest condolences to all South African individuals or associations it supported at that time and whom, in the wake of Nelson Mandela, carried this fight against apartheid. Let us spare a special thought for Denis Hurley, archbishop of Durban, who passed away in 2004, and who was another “giant” in the war against apartheid, together with Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. He was the first one to call CCFD-Terre Solidaire for action against the racist regime and to stand up against the political support it benefitted from France and Europe.

A call that led CCFD-Terre Solidaire to work closely with Christian churches in South Africa, specifically by financing the publication of the “Kaïros document”, (œcumenical call of all South African churches, to take a clear anti-apartheid position), as well as the Justice and Peace Commission initiated by the South African Bishops Conference, or oecumenical anti-apartheid movements such as Diakona Council of Churches, created in 1976 by Denis Hurley.

This call also prompted the CCFD-Terre Solidaire anti apartheid involvement, during the 1970’s, within French and European collectives composed of Christian associations and unions, to attempt to raise awareness of the French public to the racial discrimination which black and coloured people were subjected to. Hence the campaigns for the release of Nelson Mandela driven by our volunteers.

From the 1990’s, CCFD-Terre Solidaire turned its support towards local organizations working for the construction of peace and democracy and the promotion of disadvantaged people, especially in townships.

Today, in a South Africa where social inequality and inequity are still blatant, the South African partners of CCFD-Terre Solidaire remain mobilized for the recognition of the rights of marginalized groups: landless farmers, unemployed persons, refugees and victims of discrimination related to HIV/AIDS or gender. Nelson Mandela, your vision of Humanity will continue to inspire millions of women and men across the world,” states Guy Aurenche, president of CCFD-Terre Solidaire.

Return to “In memory of Nelson Mandela”

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