Information as peacebuilding: grassroots strategies against chemical weapon misinformation in Kurdistan

In the absence of effective international mechanisms to uphold the right to peace, access to accurate information becomes a critical bottom-up peacebuilding strategy. This paper examines how communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq navigate the convergence of historical trauma with ongoing insecurity and mis/disinformation surrounding chemical weapon (CW) threats. The legacy of CW use – particularly the 1988 Halabja massacre – continues to shape Kurdish collective memory and risk perception, while more recent concerns linked to Islamic State reinforce persistent uncertainty. These dynamics are compounded by a fragmented and politicised media landscape marked by uneven regulation. Drawing on qualitative interviews with journalists, educators, and civil society actors, this study employs thematic analysis alongside discourse and narrative analysis. It examines how information is produced, perceived and, importantly, utilised. The findings show that CW-related memories function simultaneously as trauma and resilience, shaping identity and motivating civic engagement. Participants reported widespread mistrust in local media and emphasised the need for stronger informal verification practices and critical media literacy during crises. They also described emerging initiatives that integrate peace education and participatory knowledge production aimed at countering information disorder and strengthening social cohesion. Building on critical peace education and epistemic justice frameworks, this paper argues that access to truthful, contextually grounded information can operate as both a protective resource and a form of civic resistance. It conceptualises information as peace infrastructure that enables human security in contexts of institutional fragility. The paper concludes by proposing a range of recommendations to strengthen informational resilience and support sustainable grassroots peacebuilding.