As a national, nonpartisan, independent Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace draws on our exceptional convening power to create opportunities for diverse audiences to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas necessary for creative solutions to difficult challenges. We serve as an important, neutral platform for bringing together government and nongovernment, diplomacy, security, and development actors, and participants across political views. The Institute’s events help shape public policy and priorities to advance peaceful solutions to conflict and strengthen international security.
The goal of this meeting was to determine the set of problems faced by peacebuilders in the field that the Roundtable will address over the coming year. The day’s four sessions considered potential targets identified by Roundtable members at its first meeting in May and in subsequent discussions. Each session included a brief overview of a problem and possible solution set by the Roundtable Secretariat staff.
To mark International Human Rights Day 2011, The George Washington University, the U.N. Global Compact U.S. Network, and the U.S. Institute of Peace will host a day-long conference on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
USIP had an in-depth discussion with Katerina Dalacoura on the launch of her USIP-funded book titled Islamist Terrorism and Democracy in the Middle East on December 7th from 3-4:30 at Carnegie.
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson described the ongoing U.S. efforts to support regional partners in mitigating and eliminating the threat posed by the LRA, including the recent decision to deploy U.S. military advisers to work with regional militaries. He also discussed new opportunities and continuing challenges for this regional effort.
On December 6, the U.S. Institute of Peace facilitated a discussion featuring two women NGO leaders from Iraq whose USIP-supported projects enable them to promote positive participatory roles for women as peacebuilders and provide mechanisms and strategies to combat discrimination and violence against women in Iraq.
Regional and global security experts addressed questions on the links between the fields of security and conflict management and the balance between regional/local security initiatives and global ones. The discussion centered on the themes of USIP’s book, "Rewiring Regional Security in a Fragmented World", edited by Chester A. Crocker, Fen Olsen Hampson, and Pamela Aall. Read the event coverage, "Rewiring Regional Security" Released at USIP Gathering
On November 29, the authors of two recent USIP Peaceworks on the Afghan peace process shared their report findings on the challenges presented by the Afghan conflict, and lessons for overcoming them and achieving durable peace gleaned from comparative international experience.
On November 29, 2011, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a panel of distinguished experts who discussed the situation of women in Haiti and their role in reconstruction. The event featured a delegation of women leaders from Haiti and an exhibition of photos taken by Haitian women depicting their lives in the tent cities around Port-au-Prince. Read the event coverage, Rep. Donna Edwards: Invest in Women to Rebuild Haiti
Over the last six months, Iran has witnessed an escalating power struggle as conservatives of different ideological stripes and loyalties jockey for influence ahead of the March 2012 parliamentary elections. On November 18, USIP hosted a distinguished panel of experts on these and other developments on the elections in Iran. Read the event coverage, Infighting Marks Lead Up to Iranian Elections
On November 18, USIP hosted Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, former Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. and High Commissioner to the U.K., for a talk on Pakistan’s present state and future prospects. Read the event coverage, Pakistan’s Future: Uncertainty and Hope