To raise awareness of the rights and freedoms of the students guaranteed by human rights laws, declarations and treaties, especially those contained in the International Bill of Rights, and the importance of raising awareness of the national constitutional and legal content and guarantees related to respect for human rights, and to introduce minority rights at the international and national levels and ways to protect minority rights and preserve diversity in Iraq.
The Hammurabi Human Rights Organization, in cooperation with the Al-Iraqia University, College of Law and Political Science, held a scientific workshop on February 27th , 2025, in one of the college’s large halls.
The workshop allocated for students of the College of Law and Political Science and covered two main topics. One of them was entitled “Human Rights: Contents and Guarantees,” was presented by Mrs. Pascale Warda, a specialist in advanced studies in human rights from the Catholic University of Lyon.
Mrs. Warda addressed the most important international conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, focusing on the rights and freedoms contained in the International Charter, as well as the most important agreements and declarations that Iraq has joined in this regard.
Mrs. Warda also pointed out the most important obstacles and challenges facing the implementation of respect for human rights, in addition to Iraqi laws and the necessity of their harmony and adaptation with the contents of the International Charter.
The second topic of the workshop was on the rights and protection of minorities.
Professor Hasson Abboud Muhybis of the College of Arts, Al-Iraqia University, presented a lecture on religious and national minorities in Iraq and a historical overview of the main challenges faced by minorities after the change in Iraq and the impact of the ISIS occupation of areas inhabited by religious and ethnic minorities.
Participants in the scientific workshop received information, facts, and analyses about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Bill of Rights, and the importance of inspiring the principles and essence of the Declaration in daily behavior, as well as incorporating them into Iraqi laws and legislation. The workshop emphasized respect for the rights of minorities and the importance of respecting ethnic, racial, religious, and cultural diversity in Iraq in order to preserve pluralism and freedom of belief.
The workshop, which was attended by more than eighty students, witnessed a clear response from students through their interaction with the material provided by the lecturers. An interactive dialogue took place between the lecturers and students, as well as unexpected discussions and interventions by the students making the workshop more enriching. Students described the lecture as being the core of their specialization to open horizons for further discussion, dialogue, and interaction.
In conclusion, the workshop produced a set of conclusions and recommendations that could serve as a roadmap for promoting a culture of human rights and enhancing the protection of minorities.
It is to be mentioned that the workshop is part of the project to create a culture of human rights in Iraq, implemented by Hammurabi Human Rights Organization in partnership with John Paul II Foundation and funded by the Italian Foundation for Development
