Vienna, July 17 (RHC)-- Cuba participated in a virtual meeting of the Group of Friends of the Nelson Mandela Rules and reaffirmed its commitment to the guidelines adopted by the UN General Assembly in tribute to the former South African president, the island's embassy in Austria published today on Twiter.

The tweet from the diplomatic mission recalls that the rules, officially known as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, set standards for the treatment of prisoners.

"Cuba participated in a virtual meeting of the Group of Friends of Mandela's Rules and reaffirmed its commitment to these guidelines adopted by the #AGNU in tribute to the former South African president, which establish standards for the treatment of prisoners," the entire message reads.

The meeting took place just hours before the celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day (1918-2013), set for each July 18th by the United Nations General Assembly, in tribute to the life and historical legacy of the anti-apartheid leader.

Precisely in Cuba, one of the activities to pay tribute on that date is the marathon that bears his name, and that on this occasion will make its seventh edition virtually because of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19.

As is traditional, the marathon race was convened by the Marabana-Maracuba project, the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) and the embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Havana.

The idea is to walk or jog in the space available to those interested, other physical activities can be added, such as gymnastics, yoga, localised gymnastics and general physical preparation, all in accordance with current hygiene and social distancing measures, says a recent press release.

Participants will be able to post their videos and photos on the Facebook pages Andarines cubanos and SouthAfricanEmbassyCuba and the twitter page @SAEmbCuba, with the tags #MandelaDay #DíaMandela and #CarreraporMandela.

Since the United Nations declared July 18 as Nelson Mandela Day in 2009, 67 minutes of that day have been dedicated to social work and thousands of initiatives have been launched across the planet.

Here in Cuba, through this race that will now be virtual, an exceptional man like Mandela, a tireless fighter for justice and against discrimination, will once again be honored.