AsiaNet  87934

ABU DHABI, UAE, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN / --

The Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to jointly present awards via virtual

ceremony on International Day of Human Fraternity

Ceremony to be streamed 4th February on www.zayedaward.org 5:30pm GST/1:30pm GMT

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has today officially revealed that UN

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Moroccan-French activist, Latifa Ibn

Ziaten, are the two honorees of its 2021 award.

Hosted via a virtual ceremony, anchored around the setting of the Founder's

Memorial, in Abu Dhabi, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity's (ZAHF) inaugural

annual award ceremony will be streamed from its own website for viewers to

watch, on Thursday evening at 5:30pm GST.

Born out of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity (DHF), in Abu

Dhabi, in 2019, and aligned to the humanitarian values shared by the UAE's

founder, the late Sheikh Zayed, this global award recognizes individuals who

are committed to fostering conditions for peaceful co-existence.

In recognition of that historic meeting, the honorary recipients of the first

Zayed Award for Human Fraternity were the co-signees of the Document: His

Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and the Head of the

Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Francis.

As Secretary-General of the UN, since 2017, Antonio Guterres has embarked on a

dedicated mandate to address issues relating to world peace and security. Among

some of the key initiatives he has spearheaded, during his time in office,

Guterres has addressed a number of impactful initiatives, including: countering

hate speech and violence; modernizing UN peacekeeping practices; to his Global

Cease Fire Appeal and Initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic – resulting in

170 member and observer states heeding that call to sign up.

2021 honoree, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, is a mother and Moroccan-French activist,

dedicated to raising awareness against escalating religious extremism,

following her own personal tragedy of losing her son, Imad, to a terrorist

attack, in 2012. Since then, Latifa has become a well-known civil society

activist, in France and beyond; working with families and communities to

prevent youth radicalization and spreading the message of peace, dialogue, and

mutual respect.

Ahead of receiving his award on Thursday, Guterres, said: "It is with humility

and deep gratitude that I feel honored to receive the Zayed Award for Human

Fraternity. I see it also as recognition of the work the United Nation is doing

every day, everywhere, to promote peace and human dignity.

"We live in challenging times. We see the threats coming from the pandemic,

from the climate, threats from war and conflict in different parts of the

world. Therefore, it is fantastic to see the enormous leadership of His

Holiness the Pope and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, pushing

humankind to come together, in unity, in dialogue, to promote peace, to promote

fraternity, and to promote the unity that is necessary to address all the

challenges to defeat hate and ensure that human solidarity wins the battles we

are facing."

In accepting her award, Ms. Latifa said: "It is a great honor, and indeed

humbling, to have been recognized by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity for

the work I and many others do, each day, in addressing extremism though

dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful co-existence. Most importantly, I hope

this award helps raise awareness among a wider audience about the need to

continue these efforts.

"The situation in France and Europe has often presented many challenges due to

a sense of exclusion and marginalization that affects so many young hearts.

That said, I feel progress is being made, and we continue to work with families

and communities to prevent youth radicalization and to understand how we can

create opportunities for more open dialogue and advocacy; making co-operation

and mutual understanding the norm – not the exception," Latifa concluded.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's ceremony, the Secretary-General of the Higher

Committee for Human Fraternity (HCHF), and co-author of the Document on Human

Fraternity, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, said:

"As head of the UN, Mr. Guterres has been responsible for launching many

individual and joint initiatives aimed at ending humanity's violence against

itself and violations against nature. His commitment and dedication in this

role has shown that he is a true endorser of the approach and values advocated

for by the Document on Human Fraternity.

"In recognizing Latifa Ibn Ziaten as a 2021 honoree, it is a bitter-sweet

realization of how circumstances born out of such grievous and personal sorrow

have been turned into a fitting tribute to her son, and all other victims of

terrorist violence. Mrs. Latifa's great work in advocating for the values of

human fraternity as a way to end violence is truly inspiring.

"This independent, global award was conceived to encourage and recognize those

who inspire us all to play our part in creating a more understanding, inclusive

and peaceful world. By examining the work and impact of both 2021 honorees, it

is clear that they are both role models for the next generation, world leaders,

and all those engaged in similarly noble pursuits for peace," he continued.

"Honoring Mr. Guterres and Mrs. Latifa with the Zayed Award for Human

Fraternity in its first edition after the Grand Imam and Pope Francis were

honored, in 2019, is a tribute to all those who love peace and an invitation to

humanity to continue on this path," Abdelsalam added.

"The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity will continue its efforts to achieve

the goals of the Document on Human Fraternity, with the sincere support and

care of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the patron of human fraternity

who sponsors the committee and its projects, and is keen to ensure that the

award continues on its path to achieve  human fraternity with complete

independence and impartiality, and this indicates the sincerity of the message

and the greatness of the goal," he concluded.

To watch the two honorees receive their award from His Holiness Pope Francis

and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, viewers can go

to www.zayedaward.org. The 30-minute broadcast will air from 17:30-18:00

GST/13:30-14:00 GMT/08:30-09:00 EST, Thursday evening.

The February 4th awards ceremony also coincides with the first International

Day of Human Fraternity, which was adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution,

in December 2020. This date is now an official day dedicated to raising

awareness and recognising the efforts of those who promote peace, harmony, and

intercultural dialogue, around the world. The date was chosen to coincide with

the 2019 signing of the Document on Human Fraternity.

This year's award is the first time that nominees from all over the world could

be submitted to be assessed by an independent judging committee, formed by the

Higher Committee for Human Fraternity (HCHF) and made up of international

experts.

The 2021 Judging Committee for this year's Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was:

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of HCHF

Adama Dieng, former UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean, 27th Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada

H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, former Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia

Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic

Signatura.  

H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza, former President of the Central African Republic

The nominations process for the 2022 awards will open on in May 2021 and close

in October 2021. To find out if you qualify as a nominator or to nominate a

candidate for next year's award, go to: www.zayedaward.org.

About ZAHF

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity seeks to honor the legacy of the founder

of the United Arab Emirates by celebrating people everywhere who embody through

their work his lifelong commitment to human fraternity. It is awarded by the

Higher Committee for Human Fraternity and includes a financial prize of one

million dollars. It was created in February, 2019, to mark the historic meeting

in Abu Dhabi of the head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Francis, and

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayeb, to co-sign the

historic Document of Human Fraternity. Pope Francis and Grand Imam al-Tayeb

were the first honorary co-recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

About HCHF

Formed in 2019, the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity is an independent

committee dedicated to achieving the aspirations of the Document for Human

Fraternity by bringing people across the world together, in the spirit of

peaceful co-existence. The committee comprises a diverse group of international

religious leaders, scholars and cultural leaders.

Video -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432391/Zayed_Award_for_Human_Fraternity_Trophy.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432389/Antonio_Guterres.jpg  

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432390/Latifa_Ibn_Ziaten.jpg

SOURCE: The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity