CHMK, Kurdistan Region: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has officially registered the 3rd CHMK National Forum for Media Reform as a recognised international scientific event.
In accordance with the Scientific Conference Guidelines (No. 6 of 2022), Assist. Prof. Dr. Zhala Saeed Khatat, Director General of the Office of Research and Development, issued official decree No. 3815 on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The decree confirms the Ministry’s scientific “no objection” to the conference’s proceedings, granting it full academic accreditation.
High-Level Strategic Meeting
This administrative milestone follows a high-level meeting between Dr Aram Mohammed Qadir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Shwan Adam Aivas, Chairperson of the Kurdish Media Watchdog Organisation (CHMK). The meeting was attended by senior ministry officials, including Prof. Mohammed Hussein (Director General of the Quality Assurance Agency), Assist. Prof. Dr. Tawana Najaf (Director General of Administration and Finance) and Prof. Amjad Sabre Al-Delawi (President of Cihan University-Erbil). During the session, Dr. Qadir expressed his full support for the upcoming forum, titled “Media Reform in Post-Conflict Areas: An International Scientific Conference on Kurdistan’s Strategic Policy Roadmap”.
Addressing AI and Academic Freedom
Beyond the accreditation, the participants engaged in a strategic dialogue on contemporary challenges facing the academic and media landscapes. Key topics included:
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Discussing how AI techniques influence scientific research and the potential risks they pose to professional media ethics.
Academic and Press Freedoms: Emphasising the expansion of freedom of expression as a fundamental pillar of the media reform process in the Kurdistan Region.
A Global Stage: From Kurdistan to London
In a significant departure from previous years, the 3rd edition of the forum will transition from a national to an international stage. The event is set to take place in London to commemorate the 128th anniversary of Kurdish Journalism Day. Originally planned for April, the organisers have proposed rescheduling the conference to July 6–7, 2026. This extension aims to ensure rigorous scientific peer-review processes and to provide international researchers ample time to finalise UK visa requirements. The forum will be hosted in collaboration with prestigious partners, including Middlesex University London, the Media Reform Coalition (MRC) at the Goldsmiths University Research Centre, the KRG Representation in the United Kingdom, Vision Aid for International Development, and the Kanga Educational Foundation (KEF).
About the CHMK National Forum for Media Reform
The CHMK National Forum for Media Reform is an annual strategic initiative supervised by the Kurdish Media Watchdog Organisation (CHMK). Following successful rounds in 2021 and 2025 (in collaboration with the University of Sulaimani), the forum has evolved into a vital bridge between academia and policy. The forum serves as a catalyst for institutional change, directing its evidence-based recommendations toward the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as media outlets and civil society, to foster a more transparent and independent media environment.
