In 1989, the Cold War and the threat of nuclear conflict was a shadow that loomed over the world — so a group of researchers and physicians at McMaster, along with support from peace-minded donors, established the Centre for Peace Studies. That initiative eventually led to an undergraduate degree and minor in Peace Studies, as well as lecture series, conferences and other public events — all with the aim of educating to create a culture of peace.

Now, more than 35 years later, the Centre for Peace Studies — which laid the foundation for the Peace Studies academic program (now Global Peace and Social Justice) — has expanded its focus and mandate and will be renamed the Centre for Global Peace, Justice and Health (CGPJH).

“We’re not moving away from the centre’s original focus, which was peace education — instead, we’re expanding our mandate to amplify the intersections in peace and justice studies, such as inequity, injustice and human rights,” explains Chandrima Chakraborty, currently the acting associate dean of graduate studies and research within the Faculty of Humanities.

As director of the Centre for Peace Studies and the Global Peace and Social Justice program, she has overseen the centre’s evolution.

“You can’t have peace without justice — and we’re building on the rich legacy of the Centre for Peace Studies to collaborate, educate and encourage people to be active participants in the kind of world we want to see.”

The new name also acknowledges the deep connection between the centre and McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences: The centre has long included the HOPE Chair in Peace and Health, currently held by health sociologist Ingrid Waldron, and has close ties to the Population Health Research Institute, as well as numerous researchers whose focus combines health and justice.

The centre will celebrate its new name and expanded focus with an event on Monday, Feb. 10 that includes a series of research panels and the Canadian premier of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, which documents the jailing of Indian Muslim student Umar Khalid following his protests of India’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill.

The research panels, which are open to CGPJH members and their postdoctoral and graduate students, will be held from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. in LRW 2001, and will highlight the centre’s three focus areas: health equity, global social justice, and environment and climate justice.

The free public screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, which will include a Q and A with filmmaker Lalit Vachani, will run from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in L.R. Wilson Concert Hall.

To find out more about the Centre for Global Peace, Health and Justice, visit their new website.