The Human Rights Unit at the College of Engineering organized an educational awareness workshop titled “Iraqi National Day: The Symbolism of Belonging and the Promotion of National Identity.” The session was delivered by the unit’s director, Dr. Israa Abdul Ali Kazem, and attended by a group of second-year students from the Department of Surveying Engineering, as part of the University of Baghdad’s celebrations of Iraqi National Day.
The workshop addressed the significance of National Day in the collective consciousness of the Iraqi people, emphasizing its role in renewing the pledge of loyalty to the homeland and commemorating the sacrifices of martyrs and heroes who contributed to shaping modern Iraqi history.
Key themes of the workshop included an exploration of the national and historical meanings of Iraqi National Day, a discussion on the concept of national identity amid current challenges, and the university’s role in fostering national awareness among students.
Dr. Israa Abdul Ali Kazem also stressed the importance of instilling values of citizenship and human rights in students, and reinforcing the principles of coexistence and peace as foundational pillars for building a just civil state based on equality and justice.
The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations emphasizing the need to enhance student activities that embody the spirit of national belonging and to utilize national occasions as opportunities to reinforce a culture of human rights and deepen awareness of the public good.
This initiative supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which advocates for quality education, as well as Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions.
