HM King issues Order (32) of 2024 establishing King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence

Manama, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, issued Order (32) of 2024, establishing the King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence. The order states the following: Upon reviewing the constitution, Royal Order (15) of 2018 on the establishment of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and its amendments, and reflecting the objectives and principles derived from the history and civilisation of the Kingdom of Bahrain through the ages, which embody openness to all civilisations, religions, and cultures, and the promotion of coexistence values, and in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain's vision to enhance global peace and communal living, and to encourage pioneering efforts and works in the field of dialogue among civilisations and peaceful coexistence, we order the following: Article I An award titled the "King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence," hereinafter referred to as the "Award," shall be established. His Majesty the King shall be the Honorary President of the Award. Article II Th e Award shall be of an international scale and shall be awarded biennially to individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the dialogue of civilisations and peaceful coexistence. Article III The Award aims to: 1. Encourage individuals and organisations for their pioneering efforts in promoting the dialogue of civilisations and peaceful coexistence, honouring and supporting 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. 2. Raise awareness of the importance of the civilisational and cultural convergence and integration to achieve global peace, and promote the common values and principles agreed upon by humanity. Article IV The Award shall be supervised by the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, which shall be responsible for formulating the general policy of the Award in line with its vision, mission, and objectives, as follows: 1. Approving the rules, terms, and mechanisms for the Award, overseeing its operations, evaluating nominations, and setting the criteria for submission of nominations. 2. Planning, monitoring, and evaluating achievements to develop the Award and fulfil its objectives. 3. Forming a jury panel for the Award, determining the compensation for its members and associates for each edition. 4. Issuing internal regulations for the Award and establishing its organisational structure. 5. Approving and announcing decisions related to the winning of the Award. 6. Withholding the Award if the submitted entries do not meet the required standards. 7. Liaising with relevant awards and institutions. 8. Consulting with experts and specialists in the fields of peaceful coexistence as needed for the effective administration of the Award. Article V For each edition of the Award, an international jury panel shall be formed, headed by the Cha irperson of the KHGC Board of Trustees or their deputy. The jury shall comprise at least four members of distinguished global expertise and standing, appointed by a decision from the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. The jury shall conduct its work in accordance with the rules and regulations outlined in the Award's regulations. The jury shall evaluate the nominated achievements for the Award and select the best based on objective criteria. The final decision shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for appropriate action. Article VI The jury shall conduct its duties independently and transparently, upholding values of impartiality, objectivity, and integrity in its deliberations, which shall be confidential. Article VII The executive body of the KHGC shall serve as the executive body of the Award, with the KHGC Executive Director acting as the Secretary of the Award. Article VIII The Award shall carry a financial reward, the amount of which shall be determined by a Royal Order. The winner shall also receive a certificate of appreciation and a medal during a ceremony held under the patronage of His Majesty the King. Article IX The Award shall have a dedicated financial allocation for its operations, included within the financial allocation for the KHGC in the state's general budget. Article X This order shall take effect from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette. Source : Bahrain News Agency