Murray Celebrates Mandela International Day with South African Officials

Murray Meets with Parliamentary Delegation to Promote Government Accessibility

DENVER—State Rep. Carole Murray met with a visiting delegation of both elected and non-elected officials from South Africa’s parliament on Monday, Nelson Mandela’s 93^rd birthday and the third annual Mandela International Day.

The group of officials met with Murray, R-Castle Rock, to discuss the differences between South Africa’s young democracy and Colorado’s own democratic system. The conversation focused largely on increasing transparency and participation in government, particularly for women.

“I hold nothing but respect for the obstacles the nation of South Africa overcame in their path towards establishing a true democracy,” said Murray. “And a strong education is a principal ingredient for increasing government participation and accessibility, especially for women.”

Murray holds office alongside 40 other women in Colorado’s General Assembly, which has one of the highest percentages of women serving in a state legislature in the United States. 

Members of South Africa’s parliamentary delegation welcomed Murray’s words and expressed hopes that South Africa too could achieve similar results.

South Africa did not become a true democracy until 1994, when Nelson Mandela was elected president in a fully representative democratic election. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 18^th to be Mandela International day, to help bring people together, fight poverty, and promote peace and reconciliation around the world. 

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