As the world prepares to mark the legacy of Nelson Mandela on Wednesday on the 100th anniversary of his birth the United Nations has paid tribute to the legacy left for mankind by the anti-apartheid activist.

“Nelson Mandela was a towering global advocate for justice and equality,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his video message for Nelson Mandela International Day, which was inaugurated by the UN General Assembly in November 2009, in recognition of Madiba’s global contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.

Mandela, who died in 2013, was the first democratically-elected president of South Africa and the country’s first black head of State. He had been in prison for 27 years before being released and eventually elected president.

“He continues to inspire the world through his example of courage and compassion. Mandela was held captive for many years. But he never became a prisoner of his past”, Guterres said, noting that Mandela poured his energy into reconciliation and his vision of a peaceful, multi-ethnic, democratic South Africa.

“Rarely has one person in history done so much to stir people’s dreams and move them to action,” the UN chief said. “That struggle for equality, dignity and justice continues.”