Prince Harry on Monday criticized the “return of constitutional rights” to the United States at a conference at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The 37-year-old Duke of Sussex was spotted by his wife Meghan Markle as he made a vague critique of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end the right to abortion during a speech commemorating International Labor Day. Nelson Mandela.
“The few lies and misinformation on guns at the expense of the many,” Harry said.
“And from the horrible war in Ukraine to the repeal of constitutional rights here in the United States, we are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom, the cause of Mandela’s life.”
Prince Harry told the assembly that the world had known Mr. Mandela through photographs of a man who, “even when faced with unimaginable cruelty and injustice, almost always had a smile on his face. the face”.
He then spoke of a beloved photograph of his mother, Princess Diana, taken with Mandela in March 1997, five months before his death.
“On my wall, and in my heart every day, is a picture of my mother and Mandela gathered in Cape Town in 1997,” Prince Harry said.
Prince Harry said the photo was handed to him by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whom he and Meghan met during a trip to South Africa in 2019.
He said his mother’s “joy and play” were completely shown in the photo.
Prince Harry criticized world leaders for their inaction on climate change legislation.
“As we sit here today, our world is on fire again. And these historic weather events are no longer on fire.
“They are increasingly part of our daily lives, and this crisis will only get worse unless our leaders lead.”
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the UN on Nelson Mandela’s day
(Getty Images)
He said “bold and transformative decisions” were needed to save humanity.
“These decisions may invite the resistance of powerful interests. But what needs to be done is not debatable. And neither can science,” he said.
“The only question is whether we will be brave and wise enough to do what is necessary.”
Multiple converging crises, from the Ukrainian war to inflation and climate catastrophes, had given way to an “endless drought of injustices”.
He said it would be easy to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge, “succumb to anger or give in to despair.”
“Or we can do what Mandela did, every day inside that cell of the 9-foot prison on Robben Island, and every day outside of it. We can find meaning and purpose in the struggle.”
Prince Harry warned of a “global attack on democracy and freedom”
(AP)
Prince Harry said he had been inspired by Africa over dozens of visits.
“Ever since I first visited Africa at the age of 13, I have always found hope on the continent. In fact, for most of my life, it has been my lifeline, a place where I have found peace and healing over and over again.
“It’s where I felt closest to my mother and sought solace after I died, and where I knew I had found a soul mate in my wife,” he said.
Other speakers at the Nelson Mandela Day event were Assembly Speaker Abdulla Shahid, UN Under-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, New York Mayor Eric Adams, and the Secretary of State. of Guinea, Morissanda Kouaté.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited South Africa in 2019 with their son Archie on their first official tour as a family, before leaving the royal functions in 2020. During their visit, the couple also met with Mandela’s widow, Graça Machel.
The couple welcomed their second child Lilibet in June last year.