The United Nations General Assembly, acting without a vote, has adopted a resolution proclaiming 4 February as the International Day of Human Fraternity. The resolution aims to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
The Egyptian mission to the United Nations in New York, in cooperation with delegations from the United Arab Emirates and other friendly countries, has drafted the resolution.
The decision comes in commemoration of the Human Fraternity Document signed on 4 February 2019 by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Pope Francis of the Vatican in Abu Dhabi.
Ambassador Mohamed Idris, Egypt’s permanent representative to the United Nations, explained that diplomatic efforts have continued over the past months to build consensus on the resolution. It includes a reference to this important and unique document, with its upholding of the high human values that focus on brotherhood among all human beings, and affirms the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.
Ambassador Idris added that the issuance of this decision coincides with this delicate stage of the grave challenges that the world is currently going through, which requires pioneering initiatives and a sincere and effective effort to curb extremism in all its forms, and to confront the advocates of hate speech, incitement and demolition, inspired by the true noble religious values that urge action for peace, construction and respect for human dignity.