The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has today announced Their Majesties King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan as honorees of the 2022 award, alongside Haitian humanitarian organization FOKAL.
Inspired by the co-signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi in 2019, the award recognises the honorees for their contributions to building a more peaceful, harmonious and compassionate world based on the values of human fraternity.
This year’s award was decided by an independent judging committee, composed of former heads of state, a Nobel peace laureate, and experts in interfaith and intercultural dialogue drawn from around the world.
Her Majesty Queen Rania has been honored for her passionate advocacy for refugee rights around the world and consistent efforts to promote tolerance and acceptance through philanthropic initiatives.
In recent decades, Jordan has opened its doors to millions of refugees and remains one of the few places where refugees can freely move, receive education, and benefit from government services.
FOKAL, a Haitian humanitarian organization founded in 1995, was recognized by the judging committee for playing a vital role in shaping Haiti’s youth and supporting its hard-working communities at the grassroots level. The organization runs a wide range of programmes and initiatives aimed at serving the common good and building a more prosperous and harmonious society in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Commenting on the Award’s 2022 honorees, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity said: “The judging committee of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity conducted a review of the humanitarian efforts of the over 200 personalities and institutions nominated this year. Each candidate proved to be a source of inspiration and true epitome of human fraternity, following in the footsteps of the late founding father of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam added that the selection by the judging committee of Their Majesties King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, and the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL) in Haiti, comes as a culmination of their tireless efforts in promoting the values advocated for, and contained in, the historic Document on Human Fraternity co-signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and patron of human fraternity.
The Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity stated: “His Majesty King Abdullah II has carried a message of peace and love over successive decades, and His Majesty has made great efforts in preserving Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and receiving refugees inside the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He has presented a model of tolerance in the region, and supports dialogue between religions and cultures, creating a link between Eastern and Western cultures.”
“Queen Rania is a pioneering role model for Arab women and has contributed greatly to empowering Jordanian girls and ensuring their full rights, in addition to her distinguished activities in serving children and refugees, regardless of race, gender, or religion,” he continued.
Cardinal Ayuso on Zayed Award: Look for ways to implement fraternity
The President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue highlights the message of fraternity conveyed by the Zayed Award assigned today in Abu Dhabi, especially in light of the current war in Ukraine.
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot is the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Speaking to Vatican News’s Fr Felipe Herrera, the Cardinal stressed the message of fraternity conveyed by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity which has been presented to the King and Queen of Jordan and to the Haitian non-profit organization FOCAL.
Cardinal Ayuso said the event is especially relevant at this time of war in Ukraine.
“This event offers the opportunity to make an appeal to all people of good will to look for ways to implement human fraternity and to collaborate for building a better world.”
Cardinal Ayuso also hailed Pope Francis’ call for a Day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, 2 March, inviting all religious leaders across the world to join in.
“May the collaboration of all, following our respective religious contribute to create a better world and particularly to restore peace among our human family!”
Established in 2019, the Award is organized by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, an independent international committee instituted to promote human fraternity values in communities around the world and to fulfil the aspirations of the Document on Human Fraternity. It is named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late ruler of Abu Dhabi and founder of the United Arab Emirates, to celebrate his legacy of championing peaceful coexistence.
