The International Day of Human Fraternity

The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/200 on 21 December 2020 proclaiming February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity to be observed every year as of 2021. The resolution co-facilitated by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates takes note of efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue including the 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 that resulted in the signing of the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace & living Together”. It also invites all Member States to further promote a culture of peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity.

The International Day of Human Fraternity was celebrated for the first time on 4 February 2021 in a virtual event that was highly attended by member states, religious leaders, faith actors and civil society representatives. In his message on the occasion, the Secretary-General of the United Nations said “As we commemorate the International Day of Human Fraternity, let us commit to do more to promote cultural and religious tolerance, understanding and dialogue”

Celebrating human fraternity and the values it embodies such as mutual respect, diversity of cultures and religions, advancing intercultural and interreligious dialogue reminds us of the common values that we share as one humanity. This spirit is particularly needed at a time when many communities are divided across religious, ethnic and cultural lines. Growing religious hatred, stigma and manifestations of various forms of discrimination against vulnerable communities including minorities are an affront to human rights and UN values. Such vile acts risk undermining global efforts to recover and rebuild better in a post-pandemic era.

As such, state and relevant non-state actors including religious leaders from across the faith spectrum play a vital role in promoting dialogue among all religious groups leading to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all mankind. Promoting acceptance and respect of religious and cultural diversity through interreligious and intercultural dialogue will create an environment conducive to building peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

In this context, those humanistic principles are aligned with the goals and objectives of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which was created in 2005 to advance intercultural and interreligious dialogue as a viable tool to prevent and defuse identity-based tensions UNAOC works to advance mutual respect for cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs. Over the years, it has provided a global platform for dialogue between faith actors across the faith spectrum emanating from a recognition that genuine dialogue bridges divide and overcomes prejudices, stigmatization, misperceptions, and polarization. Fulfilling a world of “One Humanity, Many Cultures” is the raison d’etre of UNAOC (A/64/14, A/69/312).

UNGA Res A/75/200
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N20/377/94/PDF/N2037794.pdf?OpenElement

Document of Human Fraternity
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/travels/2019/outside/documents/papa-francesco_20190204_documento-fratellanza-umana.pdf

UNGA Res A/64/14
https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/64/14

UNGA Res A/69/312
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N15/209/20/PDF/N1520920.pdf?OpenElement