Participation in the 8th International Conference on Humanitarian Studies (IHSA 2025)

A mutual interdisciplinary paper by Kurdistan Technical Institute faculties has been accepted for presentation at the 8th International Conference on Humanitarian Studies (IHSA 2025).

KTI

We are pleased to announce that the mutual paper of Dr. Pegah Seidi, Tina Naseri from Kurdistan Technical Institute, and Dr. Dilshad Jaff from the University of north Carolina has been accepted at the 8th International Conference on Humanitarian Studies (IHSA 2025), which will be held simultaneously in Istanbul, Turkey (Marmara University) and Bergen, Norway (Chr. Michelsen Institute) from 15 to 17 October 2025.

This is an interdisciplinary paper, combining the expertise of experts in the fields of psychology (Dr. Pegah Seidi), medicine (Dr. Dilshad Haaf), and management (Tina Nasseri). The paper is titled “The Importance of Localizing Humanitarian Mental Health Responses in Conflict Settings: Lessons from Iraq.” The paper will also be part of the panel discussion “Reinventing Humanitarian Action – Innovations and Knowledge Infrastructures Driving Transformation,” which will be presented by Dr. Pegah , a faculty and Director of the Kurdistan Institute’s Counseling Center.

Drawing on the unique experiences of Iraq as a case study, which faces a shortage of relevant human resources while being constantly embroiled in war and conflict, this paper highlights the urgent need for indigenous and culturally-based approaches to mental health care in humanitarian crises. 

By supporting local solutions and capacity building, this work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). In doing so, it contributes to global efforts to design innovative, inclusive and transformative humanitarian responses that leave no one behind.