On June 6, the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light held an online event titled “Middle East (Iraq) SDGs Peace Implementation Committee: For an Unfading Tomorrow”, bringing together participants from Iraq and across the Middle East to discuss practical strategies for implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting long-term community recovery.
The event brought together representatives from the fields of religion, international law, peace education, media and youth affairs, reflecting growing regional interest in collaborative approaches to reconstruction, social cohesion and sustainable development.
Countries across the Middle East, including Iraq, have faced years of conflict, sectarian divisions and social instability, prompting increased calls for initiatives focused on education, community restoration, youth engagement and interfaith cooperation. Against this backdrop, HWPL organised the event to explore locally driven solutions aligned with the SDGs and aimed at promoting peace and social integration.
A key outcome of the meeting was the introduction of the Middle East SDGs Peace Implementation Committee. The committee comprises representatives from religious communities, international law, peace education, media organisations and youth groups, and is intended to facilitate joint projects addressing local challenges while promoting a culture of peace throughout the region.
Speaking during the event, Dr Sarteep Aziz Fars, professor at the College of Islamic Sciences at the University of Sulaimani, said religion should serve to protect human dignity and the value of life rather than create divisions within society. He stressed that interfaith dialogue does not require people to abandon their beliefs but instead encourages mutual understanding, trust and cooperation among communities.
Barween Ameen, a founding committee member of ASUDA, said her participation in the HWPL World Peace Summit in September 2025 provided an opportunity to connect with peace practitioners from around the world. She expressed hope that the values of peace and mutual respect could continue to be promoted through educational institutions.
Based on the discussions and recommendations presented during the meeting, HWPL announced plans to launch peace educator training programmes and expand engagement with provincial council officials in Iraq. The organisation also intends to continue promoting support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War and related state-level peace initiatives.
According to HWPL, future activities in Iraq will include the official registration of its local branch and the development of follow-up projects under the Middle East SDGs Peace Implementation Committee, with the aim of strengthening community cooperation, sustainable development and peacebuilding efforts across the region.
