International Award, International Jury : King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence to have global standing and reach

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain yesterday announced that the nominations for the King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence will be selected based on recommendations from an international jury panel consisting of people with distinguished global expertise and standing. The announcement was made by H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence (KHGCPC), at a press conference.

Evaluation process

Nominations for the international award will be evaluated by the international jury panel and the best among the nominations will be selected based on objective criteria independently and transparently by upholding values of impartiality, objectivity and integrity in its deliberations, it was announced. The criteria mentioned include excellence, creativity, innovation, value integration, and global influence in promoting the values of peaceful coexistence and human solidarity, rejecting extremism, violence, and hatred.

The panel will comprise of at least four members of distinguished global expertise and standing and their selections will be submitted to the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence. Further, H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah said the Award will carry a financial reward, a certificate of appreciation, and a medal during a ceremony held under the patronage of His Majesty the King

Aims of the Award

The Award of international scale was established as a pioneering initiative based on a Royal Order issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and is chaired honorarily by His Majesty. It is awarded biennially to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the dialogue of civilizations and coexistence.

It aims to encourage individuals and organizations for their pioneering efforts in promoting the dialogue of civilizations and peaceful coexistence, honour and support notable work aimed at fostering values of peaceful coexistence, global solidarity, and human diversity, while rejecting extremism, violence, and hatred, and preserving human achievements by positively impacting the communities they serve.

Global dialogue and tolerance

H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah’s announcement highlights the KHGCPC’s commitment to creating dialogue among civilizations and cultures, which stems from the Kingdom’s rich historical and cultural legacy of openness and pluralism and echoes the principles outlined in the Constitution and the National Action Charter, as well as the Kingdom’s declaration on freedom of thought and belief in the context of coexistence.

The international award comes within the framework of the pioneering and inspiring humanitarian initiatives of His Majesty the King, with the support and follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which have enhanced the leadership of the Kingdom and its successes in establishing dialogue, and promoting the values of peaceful coexistence.

During the press conference, H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah highlighted the establishment of KHGCPC, the inauguration of the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence in Sapienza University in Italy, hosting of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum East and West for Human Coexistence, and His Majesty’s call to adopt an international agreement to criminalize hate speech, and other lofty royal initiatives that carry a message of peace and hope for humanity, and the prosperity of peoples.

H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah said KHGCPC will continue its initiatives in translating the lofty and enlightened vision of HM the King and the directives of the government, headed by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in promoting the values of peaceful coexistence and human fraternity, so that the Kingdom will always remain a homeland that embraces rich diversity, a centre for cultural convergence, a stronghold of religious freedom, and an effective partner in building prosperous human societies and a world that enjoys security, peace, and sustainable development for all of humanity.