A/HRC/39/38 I. Introduction 1. Pursuant to its resolution 37/15, the Human Rights Council convened, on 27 April 2018, a three-hour high-level intersessional discussion celebrating the centenary of Nelson Mandela, his life and legacy, in the context of promoting and protecting human rights through social justice, reconciliation and democratic ideals. The present summary report was prepared pursuant to the same resolution. 2. The panel discussion was chaired by the President of the Human Rights Council and was opened by the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered a keynote address by video message. The panellists were: Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Thomas Kwesi Quartey; Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action service, Christian Leffler; Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Right to Development, Zamir Akram; and Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations Office and other international organizations at Geneva, Nozipho Joyce MxakatoDiseko. 3. The panel discussion focused on celebrating Mr. Mandela’s centenary by paying tribute to the outstanding role he played as an advocate of human rights, and by discussing the importance of his legacy, both for the present and for the future. The discussion illustrated Nelson Mandela’s lifelong struggle for freedom, human rights and human dignity, equality and justice, and his role as a champion for the protection and promotion of all human rights. 4. The panel discussion provided an opportunity for representatives of States, international organizations and other stakeholders to pay tribute to Mr. Mandela and discuss the relevance of his legacy. II. Opening of the panel discussion 5. In her keynote video message, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations welcomed the celebration of the centenary of Nelson Mandela, and of his legacy as a global giant for human rights. Nelson Mandela had understood that protecting and promoting human rights was fundamental for eliminating poverty, reducing inequalities, empowering women and creating just, inclusive and strong institutions that left no one behind. Those principles were the driving force behind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the spirit of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The United Nations and the African Union were working closely to ensure that both Agendas were mainstreamed and integrated into the national planning frameworks of Member States, and would contribute positively to people-friendly and planet-sensitive transformation. 6. Mr. Mandela’s experience should guide the international community on that pathway. Although the evil of apartheid was no more, injustice, racial discrimination and exclusion continued to be a reality for countless people around the world. 7. In closing, the Deputy Secretary-General emphasized that Mr. Mandela’s life had shown the necessity of going beyond words to deeds. The Sustainable Development Goals were a call for action to make a real difference in the lives of people, societies and the world. Mr. Mandela’s legacy should be honoured through actions to uphold human rights and human dignity, and seek peace over war, justice over injustice and reconciliation over revenge. 8. In her opening remarks, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights recalled the importance of 27 April, Freedom Day in South Africa, which commemorated the first democratic and non-racial elections held in South Africa in 1994. That day had marked the end of three hundred years of colonialism, segregation and white minority rule, and the elections had led to the establishment of a new, non-racist 2