The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity opened nominations Thursday July 1, for the 2022 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, an independent global award recognizing individuals and entities who have made profound contributions to human progress and the facilitation of peaceful coexistence.
The award, which includes a $1 million prize, was established in February 2019 to mark the historic meeting between the head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Francis, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where the two great figures signed the Document on Human Fraternity and became the first honorary recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
This year’s launch of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity comes at a crucial moment for our world, which is recovering from increased suffering and inequality because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity looks forward to recognizing nominated individuals and entities who are serving as beacons of hope for humanity.
Nominations for the 2022 award can be made by qualified nominators in the following categories: members of government; current and former heads of state; members of parliament; presidents of supreme courts; United Nations senior executives; heads of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs); university presidents; influential figures, spiritual leaders, and intellectuals; members of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity; and past Zayed Award for Human Fraternity honorees.
The award is named in honour of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late ruler of Abu Dhabi and founder of the United Arab Emirates. It epitomizes values of humility, tolerance, and respect, which late Sheikh Zayed was known for. The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is awarded annually at a ceremony convened in Abu Dhabi on February 4, the UN-recognized International Day for Human Fraternity. This marks the anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb.
The 2022 award will be decided by an HCHF-appointed independent committee, which includes the winner of Ibrahim’s Prize 2020 – Africa’s top award – and former president of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou, 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of East Timor H.E. José Ramos Horta, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Holy See Cardinal Michael Czerny, President of the Aladdin Project Leah Pisar, and Secretary-General of the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam.
The 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity honorees were United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Latifa Ibn Ziaten, founder of the IMAD Association and an activist against extremism.
The nomination process will close on December 1, 2021 and the honoree(s) will be announced on February 4, 2022. Nominations can be made by qualified nominators through the official website of the Zayed Award of Human Fraternity.
