About the Center
The Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies (CPCRS) serves as the University of Duhok’s focal point for research and practical engagement in peacebuilding. Established in 2002, it was the first academic center of its kind in both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, playing a vital role in connecting the university with wider society through education, training, and applied projects. CPCRS has been instrumental in developing key academic programs, including the undergraduate Department of Peace and Human Rights Studies, unique in the Middle East since its launch in 2016, as well as previously facilitating Iraq’s only Master’s program dedicated to peace and conflict resolution. The Center also regularly conducts research, organizes seminars and workshops with political and civil society actors, and collaborates with international partners to generate knowledge that promotes sustainable peace in the Kurdistan Region and beyond.
CPCRS functions as a policy- and research-oriented hub bringing together scholars, practitioners, and community stakeholders to address local, regional, and international peacebuilding challenges. Its work focuses on understanding political and socio-economic dynamics from both national and global perspectives, with research themes encompassing peace and conflict, ethno-religious relations, democracy and human rights, good governance, social justice, migration and displacement, and peace through economic development. Through these efforts, CPCRS continues to contribute to informed policy, academic advancement, and practical peacebuilding across Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the wider Middle East.
CPCRS works to promote peace, social justice, democracy, human rights, and good governance by engaging diverse stakeholders across academia, civil society, and government, while fostering partnerships at local, regional, and international levels, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through education, research, and practical collaboration, CPCRS contributes to sustainable development, community resilience, and peaceful coexistence, supporting the University of Duhok’s broader mission of inclusivity, sustainability, and meaningful community interaction.
Key Objectives
- Establish CPCRS as a leading evidence-based research hub and policy-oriented center on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, migration, and socio-political development in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider Middle East, generating high-quality analysis for academia, government, civil society, and international partners.
- Advance peacebuilding research and translate knowledge into policy and practice by serving as a bridge between scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, producing actionable recommendations that promote social justice, human rights, democratic governance, and peaceful coexistence.
- Strengthen community engagement, inclusive education, and youth empowerment through educational programs, dialogue platforms, and applied initiatives that enhance social cohesion, resilience, and participatory peacebuilding.
- Build local, regional, and national capacity in peace and conflict transformation by hosting researchers, supporting practitioners, and delivering training that strengthens public institutions, governance frameworks, and sustainable development in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Enhance national and international partnerships and collaborative networks that foster interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, and practical peacebuilding interventions, positioning CPCRS and the University of Duhok as trusted regional leaders in peace, policy, and development.
