Though Nelson Mandela's legacy will forever be remembered and honored, the UN General Assembly has decided to further commemorate the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary by establishing an award under his name to honor his achievements and contributions.

"Today, the Assembly took another step forward in carrying on Nelson Mandela's lifelong work through this meaningful prize," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said to the Economic Times.

Ban went on to say that the U.N. Assembly is forever inspired by Mandela and his "altruistic spirit of solidarity."

"Our best tribute to Nelson Mandela is not found in words or ceremonies -- but in actions that take up the torch he passed to us," Ban said. "When Nelson Mandela himself accepted the Nobel Prize, he said he was a representative of the countless human beings who recognized that an injury to one is an injury to all and therefore acted together in defense of justice and a common human decency. Mandela embodied this altruistic spirit of solidarity. The United Nations will forever be inspired by his example."

The secretary-general naturally concluded that the establishment of the Mandela prize is a "historic" feat and stressed that it will help to preserve and increase the legacy of Mandela, who "suffered enormous deprivation and pain for the cause of democracy and equality," the Voice of Russia reported.

Though the criteria for receiving the Mandela award has yet to be drafted (it will be established in the next six months), the official name of the prize will be called "The United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize."

The award will officially go into effect no later than November 2014, according to the Economic Times.

Nelson Mandela died on Dec. 5, 2013, at his home in Johannesburg. Nelson made history for becoming the first Afro-American president in South Africa. He held this title from 1994 to 1999.

In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize for his activity against the apartheid regime that landed him in prison for 27 years.

Rest in peace, Nelson Mandela.