The Worldwide Day of Human Fraternity celebrates the values that “are the glue that maintain our human household collectively” – compassion, non secular understanding, and mutual respect, UN Secretary-Basic António Guterres mentioned.

Stop hatred, defuse extremism

“These values underwrite peace, but all around the world, they’re being eroded by deepening divides, widening inequalities and rising despair and by surging hate speech, sectarianism and strife,” he continued.

Examples of non secular extremism and intolerance exist in all societies and amongst all faiths, he mentioned, including that it’s “the obligation of spiritual leaders all over the place to forestall instrumentalization of hatred and defuse extremism amidst their followers.”

Mannequin for interfaith concord

The Secretary-Basic pointed to a mannequin for interfaith concord and human solidarity: the declaration “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Dwelling Collectively”, co-authored by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, in 2019.

“Allow us to all take inspiration and renew our dedication to face collectively as one human household,” he mentioned. “Collectively, allow us to construct an alliance of peace, wealthy in variety, equal in dignity and rights, united in solidarity.”

Concern about non secular hatred

In 2021, UN Basic Meeting decision adopted a decision designating 4 February because the Worldwide Day of Human Fraternity. Co-sponsored by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, the decision expressed deep concern at acts advocating non secular hatred, particularly at a time when the world confronted the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated crises.

In adopting the decision, Member States additionally acknowledged the precious contribution of individuals of all religions or beliefs to humanity and the contribution that dialogue amongst all non secular teams could make in the direction of an improved consciousness and understanding of the widespread values shared by all humankind.

World Interfaith Concord Week

To commemorate World Interfaith Concord Week, noticed yearly in the course of the first week of February, the UN Mission of Sierra Leone and companions hosted a convention at UN Headquarters. Members explored the theme of concord in a world of disaster.