The Hammurabi Human Rights Organization in cooperation with the John Paul II Foundation (FGPII) and with the support of the Italian Development Agency, held an advanced workshop in Iraq to build capacity in the field of human rights, as part of its project aiming to protect the Christian minority and to promote a culture of human rights in the country.
The workshop was held from August 25 to 29, 2025 in Duhok Governorate in Dilshad Palace Hotel- Banquet Hall, adopted the "Chatham House" methodology in managing discussions.
Elite of judges, researchers, experts and activists, participated in the workshop in addition to academic professors from Iraqi four universities: University of Baghdad, Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraqi University, and University of Basra.
Dr. Saif Adnan ,the project coordinator delivered a welcoming speech followed by a speech by Mrs. Pascale Warda, Chairwoman of Hammurabi Organization, emphasizing on the importance of consolidating a culture of human rights as a fundamental pillar of peace and stability, calling on participants to impart these concepts to the students of the university.
Mr. William Warda, the General Supervisor of the project emphasize that building a society of respecting the rights of children, women and minorities as well as preserving freedoms is the way to ensure sustainable stability.
The program of the three day workshop included discussion and dialogue sessions addressing key topics in the Iraqi human rights scene, including minority rights, religious freedoms, women and children rights besides the rights of persons with disabilities.
The workshop covered three sessions per day on the first two days and intensive closing sessions on the third day.
Within the program participants got the opportunity to gain field knowledge on the reality of religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq through field visits to several villages and sites that witnessed gross violations during the Anfal campaigns of the 1980s of the past century. The tour included prominent religious and archaeological sites such as the Great Mosque of Duhok, the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Assyrian Church of the East, the village of Dawudiya, the village of Araden and its historic Church, Amadiya district, the Monastery of Mar Odishu (4th century AD), the Yazidi temple of Lalish, the Monastery of Rabban Hermiz and the shrine of the Prophet Nahum in Alqosh.
The workshop organizers stressed that this initiative represents a qualitative step towards promoting dialogue and building community awareness based on respect of human rights, contributing to the protection of Iraqi minorities and consolidating the values of peaceful coexistence in the country.