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Zayed Award for Human Fraternity announces UN Secretary-General and Moroccan-French activist as its 2021 honorees

The Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to jointly present awards via virtual ceremony on International Day of Human Fraternity

Ceremony to be streamed 4th February on www.zayedaward.org 5:30pm GST/1:30pm GMT

ABU DHABI, UAE, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has today officially revealed that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Moroccan-French activist, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, are the two honorees of its 2021 award.

Hosted via a virtual ceremony, anchored around the setting of the Founder’s Memorial, in Abu Dhabi, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity‘s (ZAHF) inaugural annual award ceremony will be streamed from its own website for viewers to watch, on Thursday evening at 5:30pm GST.

Born out of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity (DHF), in Abu Dhabi, in 2019, and aligned to the humanitarian values shared by the UAE’s founder, the late Sheikh Zayed, this global award recognizes individuals who are committed to fostering conditions for peaceful co-existence.

In recognition of that historic meeting, the honorary recipients of the first Zayed Award for Human Fraternity were the co-signees of the Document: His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and the Head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Francis.

As Secretary-General of the UN, since 2017, António Guterres has embarked on a dedicated mandate to address issues relating to world peace and security. Among some of the key initiatives he has spearheaded, during his time in office, Guterres has addressed a number of impactful initiatives, including: countering hate speech and violence; modernizing UN peacekeeping practices; to his Global Cease Fire Appeal and Initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic – resulting in 170 member and observer states heeding that call to sign up.

2021 honoree, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, is a mother and Moroccan-French activist, dedicated to raising awareness against escalating religious extremism, following her own personal tragedy of losing her son, Imad, to a terrorist attack, in 2012. Since then, Latifa has become a well-known civil society activist, in France and beyond; working with families and communities to prevent youth radicalization and spreading the message of peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. 

Ahead of receiving his award on Thursday, Guterres, said: “It is with humility and deep gratitude that I feel honored to receive the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. I see it also as recognition of the work the United Nation is doing every day, everywhere, to promote peace and human dignity.

“We live in challenging times. We see the threats coming from the pandemic, from the climate, threats from war and conflict in different parts of the world. Therefore, it is fantastic to see the enormous leadership of His Holiness the Pope and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, pushing humankind to come together, in unity, in dialogue, to promote peace, to promote fraternity, and to promote the unity that is necessary to address all the challenges to defeat hate and ensure that human solidarity wins the battles we are facing.”

In accepting her award, Ms. Latifa said: “It is a great honor, and indeed humbling, to have been recognized by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity for the work I and many others do, each day, in addressing extremism though dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful co-existence. Most importantly, I hope this award helps raise awareness among a wider audience about the need to continue these efforts.

“The situation in France and Europe has often presented many challenges due to a sense of exclusion and marginalization that affects so many young hearts. That said, I feel progress is being made, and we continue to work with families and communities to prevent youth radicalization and to understand how we can create opportunities for more open dialogue and advocacy; making co-operation and mutual understanding the norm – not the exception,” Latifa concluded.

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s ceremony, the Secretary-General of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity (HCHF), and co-author of the Document on Human Fraternity, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, said:

“As head of the UN, Mr. Guterres has been responsible for launching many individual and joint initiatives aimed at ending humanity’s violence against itself and violations against nature. His commitment and dedication in this role has shown that he is a true endorser of the approach and values advocated for by the Document on Human Fraternity.

“In recognizing Latifa Ibn Ziaten as a 2021 honoree, it is a bitter-sweet realization of how circumstances born out of such grievous and personal sorrow have been turned into a fitting tribute to her son, and all other victims of terrorist violence. Mrs. Latifa’s great work in advocating for the values of human fraternity as a way to end violence is truly inspiring.

“This independent, global award was conceived to encourage and recognize those who inspire us all to play our part in creating a more understanding, inclusive and peaceful world. By examining the work and impact of both 2021 honorees, it is clear that they are both role models for the next generation, world leaders, and all those engaged in similarly noble pursuits for peace,” he continued.

“Honoring Mr. Guterres and Mrs. Latifa with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in its first edition after the Grand Imam and Pope Francis were honored, in 2019, is a tribute to all those who love peace and an invitation to humanity to continue on this path,” Abdelsalam added.

“The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity will continue its efforts to achieve the goals of the Document on Human Fraternity, with the sincere support and care of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the patron of human fraternity who sponsors the committee and its projects, and is keen to ensure that the award continues on its path to achieve  human fraternity with complete independence and impartiality, and this indicates the sincerity of the message and the greatness of the goal,” he concluded.

To watch the two honorees receive their award from His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, viewers can go to www.zayedaward.org. The 30-minute broadcast will air from 17:30-18:00 GST/13:30-14:00 GMT/08:30-09:00 EST, Thursday evening.

The February 4th awards ceremony also coincides with the first International Day of Human Fraternity, which was adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution, in December 2020. This date is now an official day dedicated to raising awareness and recognising the efforts of those who promote peace, harmony, and intercultural dialogue, around the world. The date was chosen to coincide with the 2019 signing of the Document on Human Fraternity.

This year’s award is the first time that nominees from all over the world could be submitted to be assessed by an independent judging committee, formed by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity (HCHF) and made up of international experts.

The 2021 Judging Committee for this year’s Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was:

  • Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of HCHF
  • Adama Dieng, former UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
  • Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean, 27th Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
  • H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, former Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia
  • Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. 
  • H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza, former President of the Central African Republic

The nominations process for the 2022 awards will open on in May 2021 and close in October 2021. To find out if you qualify as a nominator or to nominate a candidate for next year’s award, go to: www.zayedaward.org.

About ZAHF

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity seeks to honor the legacy of the founder of the United Arab Emirates by celebrating people everywhere who embody through their work his lifelong commitment to human fraternity. It is awarded by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity and includes a financial prize of one million dollars. It was created in February, 2019, to mark the historic meeting in Abu Dhabi of the head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Francis, and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayeb, to co-sign the historic Document of Human Fraternity. Pope Francis and Grand Imam al-Tayeb were the first honorary co-recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

About HCHF

Formed in 2019, the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity is an independent committee dedicated to achieving the aspirations of the Document for Human Fraternity by bringing people across the world together, in the spirit of peaceful co-existence. The committee comprises a diverse group of international religious leaders, scholars and cultural leaders.

Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432391/Zayed_Award_for_Human_Fraternity_Trophy.mp4  

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432389/Antonio_Guterres.jpg  

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432390/Latifa_Ibn_Ziaten.jpg  



Antonio Guterres

 

 

Latifa Ibn Ziaten

 

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SPJIMR hosts Faculty Development Workshop to integrate ‘Indian Knowledge Systems in Business Education’

Two-day event explored embedding Indian wisdom in management curricula in line with NEP 2020

MUMBAI, India, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) successfully hosted a two-day Faculty Development Workshop (FDP) on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) for Business Education on April 10–11, 2025. The workshop brought together over 40 faculty members from across the country, providing a unique platform for dialogue, reflection, and curriculum development centred on the integration of Indian thought into management education.

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The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 underscores the importance of integrating IKS into higher education to foster holistic, multidisciplinary learning rooted in India’s rich intellectual traditions. SPJIMR, with its long standing focus on Indian wisdom in management, is well placed to advance this through meaningful academic engagement.

Commenting on the initiative, Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR said, “As we look to infuse IKS principles in the management education curriculum, it is important that we are specific about what is new and additive to existing approaches that have been built on the liberal arts, ethics, and systems thinking. I thank our conference attendees for engaging in an intellectually rigorous discussion around this question.”

The workshop began with a session by Prof. (Retd.) B. Mahadevan (IIM Bangalore), who offered a clear overview of IKS. He highlighted their interdisciplinary nature, drawing on examples from Aryabhatta to Kalidasa, and emphasised the importance of Sanskrit for accessing original sources without distortion. Prof. Jitesh Mohnot (IIT Jodhpur) followed with an exploration of Marwari and indigenous business practices. He described India’s economic landscape as shaped by ‘vernacular capitalism’, rooted in family firms and informal trust networks, and noted the publishing challenges IKS scholars face without aligning their work to global academic frameworks.

Prof. Ashish Pandey (IIT Bombay) explored leadership through Indian psychology, drawing on the Bhagavad Gita and Rājayoga to connect concepts like karma yoga and mind management with modern leadership. Prof. Varadraj Bapat (IIT Bombay) discussed indigenous financial systems, linking instruments like hundis and insights from the Arthashastra to current economic models and classroom teaching.

The workshop concluded with a synthesis session and curriculum development framework presented by Prof. Surya Tahora, Executive Director of the Centre for Wisdom in Leadership (CWIL), SPJIMR. “This workshop is part of a larger inquiry,” he remarked. “It reflects a growing recognition that our academic institutions can be spaces of intellectual decolonisation, but also creative renewal. Not by rejecting modernity, but by deepening it with the wisdom and subtlety of our indigenous traditions.”

The two-day workshop culminated in a spirited panel discussion and certificate distribution ceremony, marking a meaningful step in SPJIMR’s ongoing efforts to develop contextually rooted yet globally relevant business education.

About SPJIMR

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a leading postgraduate management institute, recognised by the Financial Times MiM Global Rankings as India’s #1 business school, by Business Today as one of the country’s top five business schools, and by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five business schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and their leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international ‘triple crown’ of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.

Visit SPJIMR.org for more information.

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Agoda and Atlys Unveil Co-Branded Advertising Campaign to Inspire Confidence in International Travel for Indian Travellers

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda and visa processing platform Atlys have launched a co-branded marketing and advertising campaign in India, focusing on simplifying international travel. Featuring a new advertisement, the campaign highlights the stress often associated with traveling abroad—from fears of overpaying for flights and accommodation to concerns over visa approvals—and positions the partnership as a solution for anxiety-free travel.

Play the advertisement at https://youtu.be/-jJZqhurikk

Drawing on the insight that international trips can feel overwhelming for Indian travellers, the campaign acknowledges how uncertainties around securing the best value for bookings and fears of visa rejection often overshadow the joy of planning a journey.  The newly launched advertisement portrays these pre-travel anxieties: from anxious searches for flight deals to the tense wait for visa approvals and how we address them. Through their collaborative approach, Agoda and Atlys demonstrate how these unavoidable aspects of international travel can be simplified, allowing the excitement of discovery to take center stage.

Matteo Frigerio, Chief Marketing Officer at Agoda, stated, “At Agoda, we believe travel should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Teaming up with Atlys lets us clear two of the biggest hurdles: cost and visa complexity. Together, we’re making global travel from India more accessible, more affordable, and much less stressful – so travellers can explore the world with ease and peace of mind.”

Atlys echoed this sentiment. Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys remarked: “At Atlys, we’ve built our company on a singular mission: eliminating the visa headaches that prevent millions from experiencing the world freely. For many Indian travellers, venturing abroad brings unique challenges, from finding affordable travel options to dealing with visa uncertainties. Our association with Agoda tackles these hurdles head-on by marrying our expertise in visa facilitation with Agoda’s strong digital travel platform. Together, we create a stress-free, holistic experience for the travellers.”

The strength of this partnership lies in how perfectly the two platforms complement each other. Agoda’s extensive network of five million properties worldwide and its integrated flight and activity options provide travellers with tools to build customized itineraries that match both dreams and budgets. Meanwhile, Atlys transforms the often-intimidating visa application process into a transparent, user-friendly experience that ensures paperwork never stands in the way of adventure.

This collaboration acknowledges a fundamental truth about modern travel—that the journey begins long before departure. By addressing both practical and emotional barriers to international travel, Agoda and Atlys are empowering Indians to approach global exploration with newfound confidence, allowing the excitement of discovery to finally take center stage.

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ZapUp Launches Powerful WhatsApp Marketing Automation Platform, Joins Microsoft for Startups

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZapUp, a pioneering SaaS platform, a product of Perky.ai transforming how brands engage with customers on WhatsApp, has announced the launch of its next-gen marketing automation suite tailored for SMBs. The platform, now accepted into the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, is positioned to revolutionize WhatsApp as a mainstream, cost-efficient marketing channel across industries.

Leading the Way in WhatsApp Marketing Innovation

As businesses continue to seek authentic and high-conversion communication channels, WhatsApp has emerged as a powerful platform to connect with customers directly. ZapUp’s WhatsApp Automation Marketing Suite introduces a robust set of tools for broadcasting, lead capture, chatbot flows, campaign performance tracking, and e-commerce integration—all via WhatsApp.

Designed for simplicity and scalability, ZapUp empowers startups, D2C brands, agencies, and regional businesses to automate engagement, personalize messaging at scale, and reduce time-to-lead conversion dramatically.

“WhatsApp is where your customer already is. ZapUp ensures you’re there too—with the right message, at the right time, at the right scale,” said Vaibhav Asthana, Founder of ZapUp. “We are proud to join the Microsoft for Startups program, which validates our mission to bring world-class automation technology within the reach of SMBs globally.”

Built for Scale, Designed for Everyone

ZapUp’s onboarding is frictionless—businesses can start sending campaigns within minutes with embedded WhatsApp Business API setup, intuitive template management, and chatbot designers.

What sets ZapUp apart is its cross-industry flexibility. Whether it’s an online clothing brand, a local clinic, or a real estate firm, ZapUp has pre-built workflows tailored to multiple verticals—helping brands deliver contextual, automated conversations that drive actions.

Key Features:

  • Bulk broadcasting and targeted campaigns
  • Advanced chatbot flow designer (drag-and-drop)
  • E-commerce product catalog integration
  • Dynamic lead forms and funnel automation
  • Real-time analytics with conversion tracking
  • GDPR-ready consent mechanisms

Empowering SMBs With Cutting-Edge, Affordable Tech

With rising costs of digital marketing and privacy-led disruptions in traditional ad platforms, ZapUp provides an alternative that’s not only effective but also budget-friendly. Its vision aligns with Microsoft’s startup accelerator ethos—equipping emerging companies with the tools needed to scale responsibly and sustainably.

“By making WhatsApp automation accessible, we are leveling the digital playing field for SMBs,” said Asthana. “ZapUp is not just a product; it’s a movement to democratize modern marketing.”

About ZapUp

ZapUp is a WhatsApp-first marketing automation platform focused on helping businesses of all sizes create personalized, automated customer engagement journeys. Built with scalability and affordability at its core, ZapUp is designed to serve SMBs and enterprises across sectors looking to unlock the full potential of WhatsApp.

For more information, visit https://zapup.marketing

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