Speech of H. E. J. Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste And Nobel Peace Laureate At the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity

Abu Dhabi, February 3-5, 2024

Your Highness

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan,

Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence,

Hon. Judge Mohammed Abdelsalam,

Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and the Muslim Council of Elders;

Distinguished Laureates of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2025.

As always,  I am delighted to be back in this oasis of harmony, the UAE with its rich cultural traditions, home to more than 200 nationalities sharing a multitude of faiths.

The UAE is truly a hub of human fraternity, and for this reason it is the birthplace of the historic Document on Human Fraternity crafted and launched by two of the world’s most respected religious figures: His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb.

On February 4, 2019, here in Abu Dhabi, these two eminent leaders signed the Document on Human Fraternity. The choice of this city as the venue for the signing of the document reflects the UAE’s track record commitment to tolerance, peace and coexistence among peoples. Six years later, its message is more relevant than ever.

The Document on Human Fraternity has evolved into action through three important global initiatives:

First, the adoption of the International Day of Human Fraternity by the United Nations, observed annually on February 4th.

The second initiative is the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, a prize awarded annually to individuals and institutions that make outstanding contributions to peaceful coexistence and harmony worldwide.

In 2022, I had the honor of serving on the jury of this prestigious award.

The third initiative is the integration of the Document on Human Fraternity into educational programs in various parts of the world, including Catholic schools and universities such as Georgetown, Washington DC, as well as in the curricula of over 1.5 million students in Al-Azhar schools in Egypt, UAE, Italy, Lebanon and Iraq.

Upon my reelection as President in May 2022, even before the official inauguration, I proposed and our National Parliament promptly and unanimously approved the adoption of the Document on Human Fraternity as a national document.

As President, I have been working closely with education authorities, the Church hierarchy and other religious leaders to ensure that the teachings and values of this document are adapted into our national school curriculum.

The principles enshrined in the Document on Human Fraternity naturally align with the fundamental values of our Constitution. It reinforces our identity as a nation that values coexistence, mutual respect, harmony and peace.

On the eve of the International Day of Human Fraternity, I wish to emphasize that human fraternity is a shared mission for all of us present here today—and, indeed, for all of humanity.

Promoting fraternity requires that all peoples, all nations, all generations, and all segments of society unite in strengthening solidarity and peaceful coexistence, prepare us to overcome the challenges and extreme dangers that confront us today.

Patiently listening to the other side’s grievances, empathy for the suffering and expectation of neighbours, engaging in respectful communication, may lead to mutual understanding and reconciliation and the forging peace partnerships.

Over the past year, we have seen the continuation of the war in Ukraine, the carpet bombing and total destruction of Gaza, the nauseating barbarity against innocent children and women, the escalation of armed conflict in the Red Sea, and the ongoing wars in Myanmar, Yemen, and Sudan, Congo, etc.

We are reminded that human suffering transcends borders and religions. Children are always victims—exploited, trafficked, and killed in conflicts they did not choose.

We live in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where knowledge, technology, and resources to eradicate extreme poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and stunting, and to promote peace, are within our reach.

Yet, we have repeatedly fail to anticipate crises and prevent conflicts.

The UN Security Council is paralyzed,  obsolete and unrepresentative of the world today.

We must urgently engineer a new architecture for global governance,  based on justice, equity and equal  responsibility.

We hope that the return to the White House of President Donald Trump will see the end of decades of humiliation, dispossession and attempts at the complete annihilation of the Palestinians, and a comprehensive and just peace settlement of the Ukraine war.

In Timor-Leste, our greatest success  has been our national reconciliation, led by our hero and founding father, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. We overcame decades of conflict without succumbing to hatred and revenge. Today, Timor-Leste remains a shining example of a vibrant democracy and religious tolerance.

In 2024, we were once again recognized as the most democratic country in Asia in The Economist’s Democracy Index and Freedom House’s report.

We uphold our commitment to press freedom and human rights, essential pillars of an open and prosperous society and in 2023 we were rated  having the freest media in Asia. (See Reporters Without Borders, Brussels).

However, we continue to face other challenges. Multidimensional poverty continues to affect 45.8% of our population, and child malnutrition rates remain too high.

We are committed to addressing these inequalities through sustainable development policies and social inclusion. Our goal is to ensure that economic growth benefits everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

As we advance towards full integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), expected to be completed in 2025, our collective mission must be clear: working with our ASEAN friends we will endeavour to contribute towards a world where peace, justice, and human dignity are enjoyed by all.

The Declaration on Human Fraternity serves as a guide for concrete action.

We must intensify our efforts to promote dialogue, reconciliation and partnerships for peace and prosperity for all.

We must persevere, even as the challenges seem insurmountable. The path to peace is arduous, but it is the only rational choice for the future of humanity.

I extend my gratitude to Your Highness, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and to all present, for continuing to inspire the world with your unwavering commitment to human fraternity.

May our collective efforts illuminate a path of hope and solidarity for future generations.

Thank you very much.

May God bless us all!