The United Nations(UN)’s observed the first ever International Day of Human Fraternity across the globe on 4th February 2021 to raise awareness about different cultures and religions or beliefs and to promote cultural and religious tolerance, understanding.
The theme of the International Day of Human Fraternity 2021 is “A Pathway to the Future”.
Significance of the theme:
i.Highlights the principles and values noted in the document titled “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”.
ii.To explore good practices towards the implementation of those principles as a pathway to the future.
Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living together:
The document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living together was signed during the meeting between His Holiness Pope Francis, the head of Catholic Church and Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayeb, on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/200 on 21st December 2020, and proclaimed the 4th February of every year as the International Day of Human Fraternity, beginning from 2021.
ii.The resolution was co-sponsored by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates(UAE).
iii.The pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar proposed to declare 4th February as the World Day of Human Fraternity.
2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity:
i.António Guterres, the Secretary general of UN and Latifa ibn Ziaten, Moroccan-French activist jointly received the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2021, during the virtual event held at Abu Dhabi, UAE on 4th February 2021 which coincided with the first International Day of Human Fraternity.
ii.The Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar jointly presented the awards.
iii.The award comprises a cash prize of 1 million USD.
Note:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that he will donate the prize money, 500,000 USD to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR)‘s efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of the human family – the forcibly displaced.
Zayed Award for Human Fraternity:
i.The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity aims to honor the legacy of the founder of UAE and celebrates the people who are committed to the human fraternity.
ii.The award is awarded by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity.
iii.The award was created in February 2019 to mark the meeting of the Pope and Imam of Al-Azhar on 4th February 2019.
Efforts of UN:
In an effort to promote Human rights and freedom for all irrespective of race, sex, language or religion,
- The UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/36/55 on 25th November 1981 and proclaimed the “Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief”.
- The UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/65/5 on 20th October 2010 and established the first week of February as the Word Interfaith Harmony Week.
Events 2021:
As a part of the celebration of the first International Day of Human Fraternity, The UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Egypt and the UAE to the UN and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity has organised event “A Pathway to the Future”.
