The inauguration of the Kurdistan Centre for Gender Studies (KCGS) was held at the Soran Conference Hall on the 2nd December 2015. The following are highlights from the speech delivered by Dr Muslih Mustafa, President of Soran University:
“The foundation of the KCGS is a vital step in academic and scientific accomplishment; today on we are going to shoulder a heavy burden and experience a new transformation in equality and justice."
"Gender Studies is a multi-disciplinary academic area of study which embodies sociology, anthropology, psychology, history, linguistics, arts, media, geography, and political science areas of study."
"Kurdistan is a haven for religious, sectarian, and social coexistence ... we are proud of this diversity. Men and woman have worked together and encountered the ups and downs of life together since the beginning of human civilization."
"Whilst a few kilometres away from us the Islamic State (IS) has committed the wildest crimes against humanity, we have been a haven and guardian for thousands of displaced people. A year ago, IS made hundreds of our women slaves and sold them. They were treated in the most inhumane way."
"I hope we can bring about a new beginning of gender studies which can pave the way for researchers to work on gender issues in the future. I hope our scientific research will be used for the solution to issues of gender."
English Translation: Karwan Fayzi Dri