Abu dhabi: The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has announced its 2026 honourees, recognizing the historic peace agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as Afghan girls' education advocate Zarqa Yaftali. This marks the first time the award has been bestowed upon recipients from the Caucasus and Afghanistan.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan is being honoured for its role in peace, dialogue, and conflict resolution in the region. This recognition highlights that reconciliation is an ongoing process rather than a single event.
Zarqa Yaftali is being celebrated for her dedication to girls' education in Afghanistan, having provided educational resources and support to over 100,000 people. Her work is seen as a beacon of hope for those in restrictive environments.
Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, expressed that the award is a significant recognition of the efforts made towards peace in the Caucasus. He emphasized that the achievement is a collective one involving many contributors and that it strengthens trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, also expressed gratitude for the award, noting its special significance due to the involvement of international figures such as Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
Zarqa Yaftali expressed her excitement and gratitude for being recognized, stating that it sends a powerful message of hope to Afghan women.
The 2026 honourees were selected by a distinguished global judging committee, including figures like Charles Michel and Moussa Faki Mahamat. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam highlighted the peace agreement's alignment with the award's mission of promoting dialogue and coexistence.
Catherine Russell and Saida Mirziyoyeva emphasized the honourees' contributions to global peace and human dignity. The recipients will be honoured at a ceremony coinciding with the International Day of Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi.
Since 2019, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has recognized individuals and organizations dedicated to building a more harmonious world, inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019.