Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Announces 2026 Honorees

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity announced today the honorees of the prize’s 2026 edition.

It should be noted that this award is presented to individuals and legal entities that have made a significant contribution to promoting interfaith peace, mutual respect, social justice, and the development of human potential. This time, the historic peace agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, as well as human rights defender Zarqa Yaftali, were deemed worthy of this award.

The jury panel includes prominent figures and experts in dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Among them is Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Notably, Saida Mirziyoyeva is the first and, to date, the only representative from Central Asia to serve on the jury panel of this award. This selection is a well-deserved recognition of her meaningful contribution on the international stage to advancing humanitarian initiatives and fostering intercultural dialogue. Moreover, this event strengthens the image of New Uzbekistan as an open country that supports intercultural dialogue and humanitarian initiatives, and confirms the country’s firm commitment to actively addressing global challenges.

Inspired by the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by the late His Holiness Pope Francis, 266th head of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and the humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to building a more peaceful, harmonious, and compassionate world based on the values of human fraternity.

Since 2019, the award has honored 19 recipients from 19 countries: His Holiness Pope Francis (honorary recipient); Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb (honorary recipient); UN Secretary-General António Guterres; French-Moroccan activist against extremism Latifa Ibn Ziaten; Their Majesties King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Haitian humanitarian organization the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL); Italian organization the Community of Sant’Egidio; Kenyan peacebuilder Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil; Indonesian charitable organizations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah; Egyptian world-renowned cardiac surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub; Chilean NGO founder Sister Nelly León Correa; Prime Minister of Barbados the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley; American food relief organization World Central Kitchen; and Ethiopian-American teenage health innovator Heman Bekele.

A landmark decision guided by visionary leadership toward ending decades of conflict and humanitarian suffering in the Caucasus, the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia is being honored as a process of peace, dialogue, normalization, and conflict resolution undertaken by the two states, which underscores that reconciliation is not a single act, but a sustained journey. 

A woman of courage with a lifelong dedication to protecting the right to education for women and children, Ms. Zarqa Yaftali is being honored for providing educational resources, psychosocial support, and community-based services to over 100,000 people in Afghanistan and beyond – providing hope and knowledge to girls living in restrictive environments.

H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, expressed his appreciation for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity’s recognition of the peace agreement and extended his gratitude to the 2026 award judging committee for honoring efforts to establish peace in the South Caucasus region and the world.

H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, called the award a “great honor” in recognition of the efforts undertaken to help establish peace in the Caucasus region, and a sincere acknowledgement of everyone who contributed to bringing this historic agreement to fruition.

For her part, Zarqa Yaftali said she felt “deeply excited and overwhelmed with emotion”, expressing sincere gratitude to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity judging committee. Ms. Yaftali noted that being selected as a 2026 honoree represents “a powerful and meaningful message” for women in Afghanistan, bringing hope and encouragement to many Afghan women – especially students in online schools and young women enrolled in peace, security, and leadership courses.

The 2026 honorees were selected by an independent global judging committee composed of distinguished figures and experts in dialogue and coexistence, namely: former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium His Excellency Charles Michel, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission and former Prime Minister of Chad His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Her Excellency Saida Mirziyoyeva, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Holy See His Eminence Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, and Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam.

H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, judging committee member and Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, said: “This year, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity committee selected the historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which embody the award’s mission and objectives in promoting and fostering a culture of dialogue and coexistence, marking a pivotal milestone in advancing global peace and a major diplomatic achievement – turning the page on nearly four decades of tension and conflict in the Caucasus and laying a strong foundation for a safer, shared future for both peoples”.

H.E. Saida Mirziyoyeva affirmed that the announcement of the 2026 honorees embodies a global moral commitment to the principles of peace and human dignity. She emphasized that this recognition conveys a renewed message of hope to the international community and reaffirms the capacity of human fraternity to foster meaningful and enduring change.

For her part, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: “The committee was honored to recognize Ms. Zarqa Yaftali for her tireless efforts and leadership in protecting Afghan girls’ right to education and advancing women’s empowerment, despite facing tremendous challenges”.

The 2026 recipients will be honored on February 4, 2026 – coinciding with UN-recognized International Day of Human Fraternity – at the annual award ceremony, to be held at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This event underscores the human value of fraternity’s capacity to overcome decades of tension and inspires the international community to engage in collective action to address global challenges.

It is worth emphasizing that Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, holds a special place within the jury panel. This participation not only recognizes the personal contribution of Uzbekistan’s representative to humanitarian initiatives and intercultural dialogue but also enhances the country’s international standing as a state that actively promotes peace and tolerance.

Utkir Alimov, UzA