United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Human Fraternity is annually observed across the globe on February 4 to honour the principles of compassion, religious understanding, and mutual respect that keep humans united.
- International Day of Human Fraternity falls in the middle of International Interfaith Harmony Week, which is observed annually during the 1st week of February.
4th February 2023 marks the observance of the 3rd International Day of Human Fraternity.
Background:
i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/200 on 21st December 2020 and proclaimed February 4 of every year as International Day of Human Fraternity.
- The resolution was co-facilitated by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
ii. The 1st ever International Day of Human Fraternity was observed on 4th February 2021.
Why February 4?
i. The date marks the historical meeting between His Holiness Pope Francis and his Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayeb on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
ii. The meeting resulted in the signing of the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”.
Culture of Peace:
The “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace“, adopted by the UNGA in 1999, serves as the global mandate for the international community to advance a culture of peace and nonviolence that is beneficial to all of humanity, including future generations.
Events:
i. The International Day of Human Fraternity events are organised by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN and the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the UN.
ii. The event is scheduled to organise a virtual event for Member States, religious leaders, faith actors, and civil society representatives on 6th February 2023.
Additional Information:
i. World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence, was 1st proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the UN in 2010.
ii. The UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/65/5 on 20th October 2010 and declared the 1st week of February every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week.
About the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC):
High Representative for the UNAOC- Miguel Ángel Moratinos
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
Establishment- 2005
About the United Nations:
Secretary-General- António Guterres
Headquarters- New York, USA
Establishment- 1945
