Human Rights & Peace Studies Unit

The Educational Unit for Peace and Human Rights Studies was established pursuant to the administrative order issued by the Deanship of the College of Education / Ibn Rushd No. 106 dated 9/2/2005, and based on the approval of the College Council in its second and fifth sessions held on 12/10/2004 and 14/12/2004, respectively. The establishment was also supported by the letter of the University of Baghdad / Department of Scientific Affairs No. 3832 dated 14/3/2005, and the recommendations of the minutes of the seventh session of the University of Baghdad Council for the academic year 2004–2005, No. 1A/2379 dated 21/12/2004, Recommendation No. (3), which included approval for the establishment of a research unit entitled Educational Unit for Peace and Human Rights Studies. This was further in accordance with the ministerial instructions No. (158) of 2005 concerning the establishment of scientific research centers and units within the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Furthermore, based on the recommendation of the Scientific Research Authority in its session held on 5/11/2009, and ratified by His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research on 25/12/2009, the establishment of the Educational Unit for Peace and Human Rights Studies was reconsidered pursuant to the letter of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research / Research and Development Directorate No. BT/429 dated 18/1/2010, addressed to the Presidency of the University of Baghdad. Accordingly, initial approval was granted for the establishment of the Educational Unit for Peace Studies at the College of Education Ibn Rushd / University of Baghdad.

Based on this approval, the university order No. 6/7/D/339 dated 20/5/2010 was issued, assigning Professor Dr. Layla Al-Adhami to assume the duties of Director of the Educational Unit for Peace Studies. Administratively, the Unit is affiliated with the Office of the Dean, and its supporting bodies include the Ministries of Human Rights, Women, Civil Society, Education, and Environment.

To make the Human Rights Unit an academic and societal reference for promoting the culture of human rights and enhancing their practices, thereby contributing to the creation and development of a fair and just university environment that respects individual rights and preserves human dignity.

The Need and Objectives of the Educational Unit for Peace Studies

The urgent need to raise awareness among university faculty members, students, and staff at the University of Baghdad about the culture of peace and human rights prompted the establishment of this Unit in order to achieve the following objectives:

1. Promoting the culture of peace and human rights within the academic community and integrating it into higher education curricula.

2. Conducting research and studies to deepen the understanding and practice of peace and human rights.

3. Providing information resources in the field of peace and human rights studies and making them accessible to researchers and postgraduate students.

4. Engaging with Iraqi civil society organizations and contributing to enhancing human rights practices and conflict resolution experiences.

5. Maintaining communication with international peace and human rights institutions and coordinating efforts to enrich studies in this field.

6. Initiating collaborations with civil society organizations to conduct scientific research required by these organizations.

1. Organizing scientific conferences, discussion panels, seminars, and training courses.

2. Contracting with researchers to conduct studies with applied methodologies.

3. Establishing scientific cooperation agreements with research centers and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

4. Participating in local and international conferences.

5. Providing proposals and consultancy services related to the culture of peace and human rights to governmental and non-governmental institutions in order to promote peace education within their organizations.

6. Organizing and holding an annual conference under the patronage of the University of Baghdad Presidency and relevant bodies, such as state institutions, ministries, and civil society organizations concerned with peace education and human rights. This conference will serve as a comprehensive scientific and academic activity, bringing together educators, stakeholders, and experts to address the most important issues related to peace and human rights in Iraq.

7. Working on providing educational units and materials that contribute to the development of individual and institutional efforts to promote the culture of peace and human rights.

One of the most important future visions of the Educational Unit for Peace and Human Rights Studies is to encourage the establishment of university-based research centers dedicated to peace education and human rights, as these constitute an essential component of the culture of advanced societies. The Unit also seeks to train specialized academics in peace education to work in such centers in the future, and to motivate them to acquire the necessary skills for constructive conflict resolution, as well as to gain knowledge of and commitment to international human rights standards.

Furthermore, the Unit emphasizes the promotion of gender equality, equality among religions and ethnicities, and respect for cultural diversity. This type of knowledge cannot be achieved except through academic institutions that provide continuous, systematic, and intentional education for peace and human rights, particularly in light of the fact that Iraq suffers from a lack of such specialized centers in most of its institutions and universities.