The newly elected President of East Timor, Dr. José Ramos-Horta has announced his country’s adoption of the Document on Human Fraternity as a national document, set to be implemented in educational and cultural institutions in the southeast Asian nation.

President Ramos-Horta said, “Our national parliament unanimously voted in support of the Document on Human Fraternity to be adopted as a national document. As president, I have signed off on a statement making it my commitment to work with our national authorities in the education system, and also with the Catholic Church and other religious groups, to adopt the teachings and values in the Document on Human Fraternity as a part of our national school curriculum.”

The Nobel Peace Laureate added, “When we look at the Document on Human Fraternity and compare it with our own (East Timor) constitution, there are many articles in the constitution that match the principles in the Document on Human Fraternity that was drafted by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb. Therefore, it made absolute sense for us to use this document in our own country - but also, I will always promote the Document on Human Fraternity internationally.”

Ramos-Horta also mentioned his pride on being a member of the judging committee for the 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, which recently honored His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan alongside the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL) in Haiti as its 2022 awardees. 

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said, “East Timor’s adoption of the Document on Human Fraternity is proof of the Document’s international standing as one of the most important declarations in modern times. We look forward to seeing other nation states and countries adopt the Document as a constitution for humanity that transcends all differences among us. His Holiness Pope Francis, as well as His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and patron of human fraternity, have shown great support for the Document and all initiatives that promote human fraternity."