Doha: The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) in collaboration with the Program in Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action (CMHA) at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, alongside the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, organized the first edition of the Conflict and Humanitarian Studies Conference.
According to Qatar News Agency, the two-day conference aims to provide a platform for an academic and critical discussion, highlighting the theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, and ethical aspects. It aims for creating contributions that address diverse geographical contexts, with a special focus on the West Asia and North Africa region.
CHS’s Director, Dr. Ghassan Elkahlout, highlighted that the conference comes in response to the exigent need for addressing the profound transformations that have emerged in the dynamics of conflict and humanitarian crisis, whether in the Arab region or at the global level. He indicated that over the course of recent years the geopolitical transformations, along with the technological advancements and environmental challenges have caused dramatic changes in these conflicts and crises, thereby prompting a comprehensive dialogue across multiple disciplines that contribute to sharing knowledge and expertise and catalyzing innovative ideas among various concerned parties.
The event strives to provide a platform for multi-disciplinary interaction and thinking through gathering a contingent of academics, researchers, practitioners and policy makers with the objective of removing the obstacles among a range of disciplines and reinforcing an overall understanding of the current humanitarian conflicts and crises, added Dr. Elkahlout. He hoped that the conference would formulate more efficient responses that align with domestic contexts and help navigate formidable challenges faced by conflict-stricken communities.
Dr. Elkahlout pointed out that the conference shines a spotlight on the imperative to localize research on conflicts and humanitarian work to ensure the integration of a broad spectrum of local voices, multifaceted perspectives, and indigenous knowledge into the academic and political discourse, in addition to encouraging the engagement of researchers emerging from conflict-stricken environments, thereby empowering a new generation of professionals operating in the areas of conflict studies and humanitarian action.
Held within panel discussions, the conference tackles four key themes, namely mediation and peacemaking, conflict and recovery in the Arab nations and abroad, current challenges and the future of humanitarian action, as well as localization of conflict and humanitarian studies, highlighted Dr. Elkahlout. He indicated that the event highlights numerous issues that touch facets of humanitarian relief and conflicts in many regions across the globe, chief among are Libya, Somalia, Gaza Strip, Sudan, and Lebanon.
