Munyonzwe
'The
Defender'
Hamalengwa Law Practice
Barrister
● Solicitor
● Notary
●Public
Criminal Law ● Immigration Law Constitutional Law ●
International Law of
Human Rights ● Family Law
Contents:
The Law Office of: Munyonzwe Hamalengwa Barrister and Solicitor 100 Westmore Drive Unit 18A, Toronto, ON. Canada, M9V 5C3 Phone: (416) 644-1106/ (416) 644-1123 Fax: (416) 644-1126
New Development:
Giants Of Justice The Nelson Mandela International Award In The Pursuit Of Justice
Published Articles:
Pride Articles:
African Affairs Articles:
Toronto Star Articles:
Munyonzwe Hamalengwa Barrister and Solicitor > Nelson Mandela Award
'I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.'
(Nelson Mandela)
August 14, 2005
Your Excellency
Your Honor
Your Ladyship
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen
Dear Sir or Madam: Giants Of Justice
The Nelson Mandela International Award
In The Pursuit Of Justice
In August 2004, I saw a giant monument of Nelson Mandela outside the Sandton shopping complex near Johannesburg. That Monument which is shown on the cover of the enclosed package was not there a few years ago when I was in that complex attending the annual conference of the International Society for Reform of Criminal Law at which Nelson Mandela was the keynote speaker. The monument struck me as portraying Mandela as a bigger than life Giant, as gigantic as his life-long struggle for justice. It occurred to me that of all the awards, honors and accolades that Mandela has received throughout the world, there is none that represents his contribution to the struggle for justice, peace and human rights not only in South Africa, but the world over. It occurred to me that there ought to be created an award, named after Nelson Mandela to be given every year to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself in the selfless pursuit for justice nationally, regionally or internationally. This will preserve Mandela's legacy in the pursuit of justice.
There are very few individuals who now stand out as embodiments of the struggle for justice in the mould of the likes of Nelson Mandela. In this complex world, we need examples of individuals who struggle for pure justice as an end itself without ties to any other concerns. It is to honor the last of the giants of justice and to create new ones that this award is created.
This initiative to create the international award comes from Canada, a nation that also spear-headed the creation of the International Criminal Court. Canada's concern for justice in and out of Canada and its reputation thereof are well-known. It is therefore befitting that the initiative to create the Nelson Mandela International Award in the Pursuit of Justice should come from Canada. The appeal for the support of the award is however, made world-wide.
It is hoped that once the initiative is off the ground, there will be an international board that will select a deserving individual to present the award to every year.
I am now appealing to you to support and be one of the first to enlist in this initiative. I am looking for financial contributions ranging from $50 to as much as you can afford. You will be informed every step pf the way as the initiative progresses. Please make your check or money order payable to the Nelson Mandela International Award in the pursuit of Justice. You can also indicate if you want to perform any role in this initiative.
In 2008, a mere there years from now, Nelson Mandela will be 90 years old We hope to have this award off and running before Mandela turns 90.
I enclose herein a package containing information about previous initiatives undertaken to honor Nelson Mandela. These include the initiative to create the Nelson Mandela Law Society at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1986, which was the first campus-based black law student group in Canada and was responsible for spear-heading the award to Nelson Mandela of the first honorary Doctorate of Laws by a Canadian University in 1989 by Osgoode Hall School, the creation of the Lawyers Against Apartheid in 1987; The creation of the Nelson Mandela Academy of Applied Legal Studies for training of paralegals in Canada in 1996; the sponsorship of numerous conferences and symposia in Canada and other initiatives.
Can you imagine the impact of and honor to Nelson Mandela of having an Award named 'The Nelson Mandela International Award in the Pursuit of Justice', analogous to the Nobel Prize given to diverse individuals and organizations that have contributed in different areas to the selfless pursuit for justice nationally, regionally or internationally!.
Please support this worthwhile cause. I would be happy to provide further information.
Sincerely,
Munyonzwe Hamalengwa
Barrister and Solicitor
e-mail address for this initiative : forthedefence@yahoo.ca
[ View Guestbook | Munyonzwe Hamalengwa's Law Practice ]
Member of:
Criminal Lawyers Association The Law Society Of Upper Canada
Last Modified: August 14, 2007
Home ● Services ● Experience ● Articles ● Quicklaw Articles ● Book Review ● Publications ● Work in Progress ● Media Bits ● Link Sites ● Contact
Copyright © 2005 by C&H