Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks today at the Nelson Mandela International Day Public Service Activity, in Ralph Bunche Park, New York:

The United Nations General Assembly will mark Nelson Mandela International Day with an informal meeting on Friday, 18 July, honouring the South African leader’s contributions to democracy, racial justice and reconciliation.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for Nelson Mandela Day, to be observed on 18 July:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Population Day, observed on 11 July:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Cooperatives, to be observed on 5 July:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, to be observed on 26 June:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the Day of the Seafarer, to be observed on 25 June:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, to be observed on 26 June:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Refugee Day, observed today:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for International Widows’ Day, observed on 23 June: