Fraternity among nations touches the deepest desire of human nature, said Hjalmar Branting, who was once the Prime Minister of Sweden. On the International Day of Human Fraternity, observed on February 4, these words ring in a lot of significance.

The UAE’s emphasis on fraternity and tolerance is on the right track. These values have been key to the nation’s foundation, growth and prosperity.

The UAE aims to help achieve security, stability and peace through these valued pillars. Dedicating a day to Fraternity in particular seems to spotlight the essence of this key virtue.

Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan confirmed in his keynote address that the International Forum on Human Fraternity, organised by the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity in cooperation with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence in the UAE, marks a celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity by the UAE, including all its institutions, sectors, leaders, and all people who reside and work on this land of harmony and coexistence.

He confirmed that this forum is based on the vision of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb as expressed in the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity. This forum is also a celebration of the sincere efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces to convey the nation’s message of tolerance, human fraternity, and moral values to the entire world.

The Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity is an open invitation for everyone to commit themselves, “to work strenuously to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace, putting an end to wars, environmental decay and moral and cultural decline”.

In these distressing virus-laden times, the overarching significance of Human Fraternity is noteworthy. The importance of Human Fraternity looms larger than ever as a global principle that is essential to safely and successfully navigating this global crisis.

The Human Fraternity Day highlights the values of pluralism within diverse societies, which is a positive and creative force for stability. It will help the nation face challenges in future.

The Global Human Fraternity Forum is timely as humanity today is standing at a critical juncture given its history on this planet. The challenges are many and are not limited to the sad global loss of life due to COVID-19 which has topped 2 million so far.

The International Day of Human Fraternity represents a great occasion to reflect the country’s pride in its humanitarian message to the whole world, its respect for cultural pluralism and the unique coexistence of its peoples.

In the sphere of fraternity, education plays a key role, as Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council (EHRC), underlines. Education inculcates the sublime values of human fraternity and grooming future generations capable of upholding the quintessential Emirati values of peaceful coexistence, love and respect.

This came as Sheikh Abdullah chaired a virtual meeting of the EHRC, which he opened with a statement marking the World Day of Human Fraternity.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity held its annual award ceremony on Thursday with messages of congratulations conveyed to the 2021 honorees, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Moroccan-French activist Latifa Ibn Ziaten,  from Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed el-Tayeb.

As Pope Francis said, “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.”