Nahyan bin Mubarak: UAE committed to tolerance, human fraternity

Sheikh Nahyan was addressing the UAE National Festival of Human Fraternity and the Human Fraternity and Global Tolerance Alliance Round Table. The festival is celebrated annually by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence on the International Day of Human Fraternity.

"The International Day of Human Fraternity comes naturally for us in the UAE. The historic declaration of Human Fraternity was issued in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The UAE was instrumental in getting the United Nations to declare 4th February, as the International Day of Human Fraternity. In the UAE, we are committed to making tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and human fraternity enduring components of our society and sharing them with the world," said Sheikh Nahyan in his keynote address to a galaxy of global leaders for human fraternity and peaceful coexistence. The list included Dr. Mohammed Al Duwainy, Under-Secretary to the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb; Cardinal Miguel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Holy See and member of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity; Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, and Mohamed Abdel-Salam, Secretary-General of the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity.

Sheikh Nahyan thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Dr. Al-Tayeb, and Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, for bringing the historic Abu Dhabi Declaration of Human Fraternity into the world.

"This year’s festival and this round table on human fraternity and the Global Tolerance Alliance sent an important message to the world. Being hosted here at Expo 2020 Dubai, we declare that Expo is, in fact, an embodiment of human fraternity. All activities at the Expo 2020 Dubai exhibit a spirit of tolerance and productive human connections. All activities intend to bridge whatever differences may separate our cultures, religions, and countries. All activities include dialogue, respect, empathy, civility, and pluralism. All activities show the importance of all citizens of the world working together to benefit all of humanity."

Speaking of collaboration, Sheikh Nahyan said the UAE is delighted to join the international community on a journey of spreading tolerance and human fraternity, to realise a range of objectives that include raising awareness of human fraternity and its benefits to society and the world; sharing knowledge of best practices that promote and encourage the embedding of human fraternity in society and the world; celebrating outstanding pro-human fraternity initiatives and examples around the globe; and creating opportunities for integrated local and international community engagement that promote tolerance.

''There are at least three key ingredients the world needs to succeed in this global quest. First, leadership matters greatly. The world must have leaders at all levels of society who believe in human fraternity firmly and promote it actively. Second, actions to support human fraternity must be part of the daily lives of society. Third, laws and regulations that prohibit the spread of intolerance, bigotry or extremism and are quick to mitigate and obviate it when it arises," he said, in conclusion.

Sheikh Nahyan also witnessed today the signing of an MoU between the ministry and the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity. This MoU will promote local and global collaboration in education, research, awareness-raising programmes, and events and activities.