Statement by Justice For All on Nelson Mandela International Day 2025: It’s Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequity

July 18, 2025

On this Nelson Mandela International Day, we honor the enduring legacy of a leader who embodied the fight for justice, equality and human dignity even as we confront an uncomfortable truth: poverty and inequity are not just economic conditions – they are systemic human rights violations perpetuated by unjust worldwide political  practices.

Nelson Mandela, who withstood 27 years in prison, taught us: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right.” He also said: “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”

War, Genocide and the Erosion of Human Rights

Today, we witness the devastating consequences when nations fail this test, when prisoners of conscience are abused, when war and genocide displace millions and when poverty is weaponized against marginalized communities. From the Rohingya refugees denied education due to funding cuts, to the civilians suffering in Gaza under Israel’s relentless genocidal actions, to the wrongful imprisonment of over 2 million Ughyur in China’s concentration camp-prison-slave labor system, to the detainees held in inhumane conditions in Kashmir by the Indian government and in U.S. ICE facilities – the world is failing its moral duty leaving millions without protection.

The Treatment of Prisoners: A Measure of Our Humanity

In 2015, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Nelson Mandela Rules, setting the global standard for humane treatment of prisoners. Yet, these principles are routinely violated. Torture, solitary confinement and degrading treatment continue in detention centres worldwide. Detainees are denied access to independent legal counsel. They face unfair trials without due process. In conflict zones, countries routinely ignore International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) guidelines and Geneva Conventions.

Justice For All calls on the global community to:

1. Demand governments fully fund humanitarian aid and reverse cuts to U.N. agencies.
2. Pressure nations to comply with the Nelson Mandela Rules and investigate abuses in detention systems.
3. Support accountability for war crimes and genocide, including through the ICC and U.N. mechanisms, because no one should be stripped of their humanity.

Reflections from Justice For All Leadership on Nelson Mandela Day:

“Mandela taught us that justice is not passive – it demands action. He reminded all that freedom in South Africa is incomplete without the freedom of Palestine. We cannot stand by as inequality deepens and human rights are trampled. The world must reinvest in dignity, not destruction, and recognize that solidarity across struggles is the only path to true liberation.”

– Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President, Justice For All.

“The U.N. was founded to prevent the horrors of war and genocide. Today, we are failing. States must comply with the Mandela Rules and the rules of war, and stop funding oppression.”

– Imam Saffet Catovic, Director of U.N. Operations, Justice For All.

“Poverty is not inevitable – it is a policy choice. When aid is cut, when prisons brutalize, when wars rage unchecked, we betray Mandela’s vision.”

– Hena Zuberi, Director of Advocacy, Justice For All.

As Mandela reminded us, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.” Let this day reignite our commitment to justice – for prisoners, for refugees, for all oppressed peoples. The power to change is still in our hands.