International Day of Human Fraternity
Observed byUN member states and International Organizations
SignificancePromotes greater cultural and religious tolerance
DateFebruary 4
Next timeFebruary 4, 2024 (2024-02-04)
FrequencyAnnual
First time2021
Related toUnited Nations

The International Day of Human Fraternity was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 2020, with resolution 75/200[1][2] as a way to promote greater cultural and religious tolerance.[3] With this resolution, which was co-facilitated by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates,[4] the United Nations invited all its member states and other international organizations to observe the International Day of Human Fraternity annually on February 4.[5]

Celebrations of the International Day of Human Fraternity include events attended by UN member states, religious leaders and civil society representatives[4] along with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, which recognizes individuals or entities anywhere in the world for their profound contributions to human fraternity.[6]

Since it was celebrated for the first time on February 4, 2021,[7] the International Day of Human Fraternity has received endorsements from different world leaders. Pope Francis;[8] Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar;[9] and the President of the United States, Joe Biden,[10][11] have given their support to the initiative.

Background

Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on February 4, 2019, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, also known as the Abu Dhabi declaration. The principles of compassion and human solidarity embodied in this text are the same ones that later inspired the declaration that designated February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity, as it has been stated by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in different occasions.[7][12]

To fulfill the aspirations of the Document on Human Fraternity, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF),[13] was established in August 2019. The HCHF, which is constituted by both religious and civil leaders from different countries and creeds, awards the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity among other initiatives.

Finally, the Document on Human Fraternity also influenced the encyclical Fratelli tutti, as Pope Francis acknowledges in the same text by stating that he was inspired to write it by his meeting with Ahmed el-Tayeb in 2019.


See also

References

  1. ↑ Nations, United. "International Day of Human Fraternity | United Nations". United Nations. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  2. ↑ Nations, United. "International Day of Human Fraternity: resolution adopted by the General Assembly | United Nations". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ Nations, United. "Guterres: 'Let us build bridges between the faiths' | UN News". UN News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "The International Day of Human Fraternity". United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ↑ "International Day of Human Fraternity". Higher Committee of Human Fraternity. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Zayed Award". Zayed Award. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Nations, United. "First-ever International Day of Human Fraternity focuses on tolerance | United Nations". United Nations. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Pope Francis: 'Embrace human fraternity to stop endless destruction'". Vatican News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Celebration of International Human Fraternity Day is commemoration of humaneness: Al Azhar's Imam". Emirates News Agency – WAM. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ Winfield, Nicole. "Biden joins pope, imam in calling for 'human fraternity'". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ "US President Joe Biden on International Day of Human Fraternity: "We have the opportunity to build a better world"". Higher Committee of Human Fraternity. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Nations, United. "Secretary-General's message for 2022 | International Day of Human Fraternity". United Nations. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ "HIGHER COMMITTEE OF HUMAN FRATERNITY". Human Fraternity. April 1, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
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