International Day of Human Brotherhood
Culture of dialogue as the way,
common collaboration as the conduct,
mutual knowledge as the method and criterion
This is the compass contained in the Document on Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Common Coexistence signed in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, in the presence of 600 personalities from various religions. And it is also on their initiative that the UN, in 2021, will establish the International Day of Human Brotherhood to celebrate the values of compassion, religious understanding and mutual respect.
In order to articulate initiatives for the implementation of the Human Brotherhood Document, the Supreme Committee for Human Brotherhood (HCHF, in its acronym in English) was created in August 2019, which Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, also joined in a timely manner, bringing to eight the number of members interested in achieving the goals outlined in the Human Brotherhood Document. (Fonte: www.vaticannews.va)
Photo: www.vaticannews.va
The Higher Committee also established the ‘Zayed Prize for Human Brotherhood’, whose winners are chosen by an independent jury of six personalities from among those who have dedicated their lives to human brotherhood, mutual understanding and peace. The six members of the independent judging panel are: UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos; the former Vice President of Costa Rica, Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr; the former President of the United Nations and High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr; Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation at the Holy See, His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle; 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and children’s rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi; 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and entrepreneur, Dr. Ouided Bouchamaoui; and Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity Secretary General and Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam.
Photo: www.vaticannews.va
The Prizes are awarded in Abu Dhabi on the Day of Human Brotherhood and for 2023 there are two winners: the Kenyan Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil, peace builder and women’s and children’s rights activist, and the Community of Sant’Egidio, which for over fifty years has played an important role in seeking reconciliation in war situations. In particular, the Committee recognised the winners for:
Photo: https:cath.ch
‘having helped young people in Kenya and saved them from violence, crime and extremism by providing them with counselling, assistance and training, and conducting major campaigns across Africa to raise awareness about violence against women and women’s and youth empowerment’:
IMAGE: www.santegidio.org
– having contributed “to the building of a more peaceful and compassionate world through the advancement of the values of human brotherhood and the inspiring example of the promotion of peaceful coexistence….the contribution to the success of peace negotiations and conflict resolution through religious diplomacy and intercultural dialogue, citing in particular Mozambique and Guatemala, and for the value of the Humanitarian Corridors Programme, promoted by the Community since 2016, for the integration of refugees into host societies”.
Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and member of the jury, remarked on 9 January, during the meeting between Pope Francis and the Zayed Prize Selection Committee, “This prize reaffirms the message that hope, truth, peace and love will always prevail against hatred. The awardees show us how we can learn to walk together in the world, speaking out for the most vulnerable in our communities, particularly children, and deepening the values of human fraternity” (fonte: www.wam.ae/it).