Remarks by Mr. Miguel Moratinos
The High Representative for UNAOC
The International Day of Human Fraternity
4 February 2021
Your Excellency Amb Mohamed Edrees, the Permanent Representative of Egypt,
Your Excellency Amb Lana Nusseibah, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates,
Your Excellency, Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity,
In preparation of my remarks today, I drew inspiration from Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the magna carta of all humankind –
It states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
For hundreds of years, the prophets and religious messengers throughout history have preached a similar message of peace, love, and fraternity.
In modern times, two great religious leaders representing 2 different faiths manifested their belief in these human values in one extraordinary document that they co-authored and signed together in a day like today 2 years ago in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
The Document of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together “ is a true manifestation of interfaith dialogue and harmony.
In introducing this document to the world, His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb are leading by example and using their clear moral voice to inspire hope, humanity, and human dignity.
The principles trenched in the blueprint are aligned with the core values of the United Nations Charter – namely to reaffirm the dignity and worth of every human being regardless of this person’s religion, belief, ethnicity, gender, or culture.
As we have just heard the powerful words of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who was among the first to acknowledge the value of the document.
In April 2019 right after his meeting with His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in Cairo, Mr. Guterres asked me to circulate the document to all Member States.
Since that date, I have been working closely with the Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, the entity established in 2019 to implement the document.
In that context, I was extremely pleased that the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution proclaiming the 4 of February as the International Day of Human Fraternity. I echo the Secretary General’s words in applauding member states that co-sponsored the resolution and especially the co-facilitators the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Observing an international day of Human Fraternity is needed now more than ever before considering the deplorable fragmentation of our world today.
We are not only facing the ramifications of a pandemic, but also the contagious virus of hate, discrimination, and racism.
The antidote is human fraternity which embodies compassion, solidarity, unity and mutual respect.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations stands ready to work with all member states, religious leaders and civil society to strengthen interreligious and intercultural dialogue in order to enhance mutual respect, cultural diversity and freedom of religion and belief.
In today’s spirit, let us re-commit to building together a better world where there are many cultures and one humanity.
Observing an international day of Human Fraternity is needed now more than ever before considering the deplorable fragmentation of our world today.
We are not only facing the ramifications of a pandemic, but also the contagious virus of hate, discrimination, and racism.
The antidote is human fraternity which embodies compassion, solidarity, unity and mutual respect.