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ABU DHABI, UAE, February 5, 2021, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Virtual ceremony held on International Day of Human Fraternity streamed for

worldwide viewers as UN Secretary-General Guterres and Latifa Ibn Ziaten

receive awards

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity held its annual award ceremony today with

messages of congratulations conveyed to the 2021 honorees by His Holiness Pope

Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb – the

2019 honorees.

Recognized for their respective efforts to advocate for peaceful resolution to

conflict and advocacy of values outlined in the Document on Human Fraternity,

both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Moroccan-French activist,

Latifa Ibn Ziaten, were presented as the two honorees of the 2021 award.

Anchored around the picturesque setting of the Founder's Memorial, in Abu

Dhabi, the awards ceremony included the acceptance speeches of the two

honorees, along with messages from Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr

Ahmed Al-Tayeb.

With the award inspired by the UAE's founder and his lifelong commitment to

humanitarian values, the Founder's Memorial was a perfect backdrop to a truly

moving, visual experience. With the ceremony online, viewers from all over the

world are able to tune in to join in the celebrations and watch the honorees

accept their award.

In his goodwill message to both 2021 honorees, His Eminence the Grand Imam of

Al-Azhar, said:

"Firstly, I must begin by saying that His Holiness Pope Francis has been a

courageous brother and constant friend on the path of fraternity and peace.

Such efforts have seen the United Nations General Assembly adopting the

anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity, February 4th,  

to be the International Day of Human Fraternity, which will now encourage

universal support in pursuing the spread the intercultural dialogue,

co-existence, and human fraternity. This is a victory for human dignity

everywhere.

"I also extend my greetings and blessings to His Excellency Antonio Guterres,

Secretary-General of the United Nations, as an honoree of the Zayed Award for

Human Fraternity. It is clear that his wide-range of humanitarian efforts

exerted through the UN have sought to rid humanity of the sufferings of

conflicts, and ease the negative effects of the pandemic."

"Joint 2021 honoree, Latifa Ibn Ziaten is a rare role model for the world. Her

generosity of spirit and steadfastness in her ability to transform personal

suffering into a message of security and safety for all, is a victory for all

humanity and a reminder of the good that is always capable of defeating the

forces of evil."

Addressing the event from The Vatican, Pope Francis spoke of the importance of

human fraternity as the 21st century's key challenge, saying:

"To the Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, I thank for the companionship during

this journey of reflection and the writing of the Document [on Human

Fraternity]. I know it wasn't an easy task but together we helped each other,

consolidating in true fraternity.

"Today, fraternity is the new frontier of humanity. Either we are brothers or

we destroy ourselves. It is the challenge of our century; the challenge of our

time. Human Fraternity means respect, to listen with an open heart, and to have

strength in our principles.

"Born from the same father, with different cultures and traditions, we are all

still brothers; and respecting our different cultures and traditions, our

different citizenships, we must build this fraternity not negotiate it. It is

time to listen and for sincere acceptance."

The Secretary-General of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, and

contributing author to the Document on Human Fraternity, Judge Mohamed

Abdelsalam, added:

"On this day of celebration for human fraternity, we are indeed honored to have

received the support of two of the world's most influential world leaders and

previous honorees of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, united with a common

message and purpose – to advance humanity as one family, undivided.

"The 2021 honorees – Latifa Ibn Zaiten and UN Secretary-General Guterres – are

truly representative of the values championed in the Document on Human

Fraternity, which forms the assessment criteria for the award. Indeed, their

respective efforts to address some of the world's key socio-cultural and

political issues are an inspiration to all and role models for many who will

also heed the call to act."

Marking the second anniversary since the signing of the Document on Human

Fraternity by the Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, the

International Day of Human Fraternity was introduced by the UN General

Assembly, in December 2020; the date chosen to commemorate the historic meeting

of the Pope and Grand Imam, at the document's signing, in 2019.

In addition to the awards ceremony and as part of the wider celebrations of the

first International Day of Human Fraternity, several key landmarks in both The

Vatican and Abu Dhabi will be lit up on Thursday evening.

The nominations process for the 2022 awards will open 1st May 2021 and end of

December 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/1433318/ZAHF_2021_Honorees_Acceptance_Speeches.mp4

Photo -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1433316/2021_Zayed_Award_for_Human_Fraternity.jpg

SOURCE: The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity