The Hague, 25 August 2025 – The Kurdistan Center for International Law (KCIL) and the T.M.C. Asser Institute, based in The Hague, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the fields of international law, human rights, and legal education in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The signing ceremony took place at the Asser Institute headquarters in The Hague in the Netherlands.

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration aimed at developing and delivering training programs for Kurdish scholars and law practitioners, conducting joint research on international legal issues such as humanitarian law and counterterrorism, and supporting the establishment of inter-university programs in Kurdistan. The agreement also provides for the exchange of expertise, the sharing of professional contacts, and access to international law resources, ensuring that both institutions are able to draw on external professional support when required.

As part of this cooperation, KCIL and the Asser Institute are exploring the creation of an Inter-University Programme in Kurdistan with a focus on international humanitarian law, international criminal law, and the legal dimensions of counterterrorism. This initiative is designed to enhance the academic and practical knowledge of Kurdish legal professionals while fostering greater engagement with the global legal community.
“We are focused on bringing international expertise to our national capacity. In order to have a strong foundation, we are working to connect our local practitioners with global knowledge,” said Ahmed Zangana, Deputy Director of KCIL.

Dr. Kasper Vrolijk, Managing Director of the Asser Institute, welcomed the MoU and highlighted its significance, stating that “this collaboration will contribute to the development of international law through the exchange of knowledge and expertise in a region that faces multiple challenges.”
The partnership marks an important step in advancing the rule of law, strengthening legal institutions, and fostering international academic exchange in the Kurdistan Region.
About the Asser Institute.
The T.M.C. Asser Instituut is a Hague-based independent research centre for international and European law, affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. The Asser Institute’s mission is to contribute to the development of international and European public and private law by independent legal research and knowledge dissemination.