November 24 2021
ABU DHABI – The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) participated as a co-organizer in the global education symposium “Transforming Education: Ethics Education for Learning to Live Together,” held virtually on November 22 to 23, 2021 for hundreds of educators, children and young people, policymakers, religious leaders, faith-based and civil society organizations, academic researchers, and multilateral agencies.
HCHF Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam delivered remarks during the opening ceremony, as well as during the high-level panel, “Challenges, Opportunities and Ethical Demands in Today’s World,” featuring UN and government representatives including the UNESCO Assistant Director General for Education, the First Lady of Paraguay, and Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Standards, Curriculum, and Educational Assessment.
Judge Abdelsalam stressed that the HCHF is dedicated to advancing – in all fields including educational institutions – the values of the Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and patron of human fraternity.
Speaking just after UNESCO Assistant Director General for Education Stefania Giannini,Judge Abdelsalam said that the HCHF has a vision for incorporating ethics and morals in international education curricula, with this work led by Irina Bokova, HCHF member and former Director General of UNESCO. Dr. Bokova is working with UNESCO to form a partnership to create a global curriculum of human fraternity and coexistence, especially to be implemented in underprivileged communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Lack of education is a root cause of many issues including poverty, conflict, and poor public health. We must ensure children have all basic rights, especially the right to education, so that the crises of today do not worsen for the next generations” said Judge Abdelsalam, acknowledging in particular the panel’s four youth participants from Kenya, Indonesia, Romania, and the Philippines.
Judge Abdelsalam quoted the Document on Human Fraternity, urging “the protection of the fundamental rights of children to grow up in a family environment, to receive nutrition, education,” and called on all participants in the symposium to highlight the Document on Human Fraternity’s principles in their work.
Judge Abdelsalam thanked Arigatou International Geneva – the main organization in charge of the event – for their work promoting education all over the world. He also expressed appreciation for the insights shared by fellow participants, who included co-moderator of Religions for Peace Dr. Vinu Aram; Director Policy and Partnership at the Ministry of Education KenyaDr. Silvester Ohene Mulambe; First Lady of ParaguayMs. Silvana Abdo; and Indonesia Deputy Minister for Standards, Curriculum, and Educational AssessmentDr. AninditoAditomo.
