The ICHS is primarily a multidisciplinary research and documentation center. It contributes to the implementation of UNESCO’s democracy program.

Its mission is to train researchers and help set up research networks, as well as to participate in the development of social and human sciences worldwide by offering new avenues of reflection on contemporary problems such as conflict resolution and democracy.

Between 2003 and 2008, the ICHS published 23 Letters from Byblos, as well as 5 publications of reference on democracy and culture. It also organized 6 annual seminars gathering PhD students preparing their theses in Lebanese and foreign universities. Since 2002 the ICHS has also organized 5 sessions and 7 public lectures in the framework of its Byblos Autumn School, the last of which took place in 2008. The Byblos Autumn School gathers every year international fellows, lecturers, researchers and students on themes related to human sciences.