The Together to Protect Human Beings and the Environment Association, a member of the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) in Iraq, signed a joint cooperation agreement with Al-Kunooze University. The agreement comes within the framework of strengthening partnerships between civil society organizations and the academic sector to support environmental issues, sustainable development, and human rights. A second agreement was also signed with the university’s College of Law to foster cooperation on legal issues related to human rights and the environment.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of several members of the association in Basra Governorate. The two agreements form part of joint efforts to expand academic and community cooperation, enhance the role of educational institutions in addressing environmental and development challenges, and empower young people to actively participate in community initiatives.

The agreement signed with Al-Kunooze University aims to implement joint programmes and activities in the fields of environmental awareness and climate action, in addition to building the capacities of students and young people and supporting volunteer and research initiatives. These efforts are intended to help embed sustainability concepts within the university campus and the local community.

The second agreement, signed with the university’s Faculty of Law, covers cooperation on legal issues related to human rights and the environment, including support for relevant research initiatives and awareness-raising activities, as well as the exchange of legal and academic expertise in areas that promote environmental justice and protect community rights.

Both parties emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between Iraqi universities and civil society organizations to develop quality projects that respond to current environmental and social challenges and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They also highlighted the need to engage students in community and innovation-based initiatives as key partners in shaping a more sustainable future.

This step comes as part of the association’s efforts to expand its network of cooperation with universities and academic institutions across various Iraqi governorates, in a way that enhances environmental and community awareness and supports the development of an educational environment more closely connected to issues of development, sustainability, and human rights.