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.
A panel featuring Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Afghan Interior Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi discussed the challenges facing the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the role the ANSF will play as security responsibilities transition from international to Afghan forces. Read the event anlysis, The Key to Stability in Afghanistan
This event, held in Palo Alto, discussed the latest approaches to understanding the role of new media in peace and conflict. The conference brought together a diverse array of innovators from across the public, private and academic communities to share research in progress, with a particular focus on harnessing the insights of Silicon Valley companies whose products have been key enablers of political activism from Tehran to Tunisia, Cairo to Colombia.
Please join us for an event focusing on the arguments for and against the inclusion of economic considerations in peace processes, mechanisms to provide incentives for key stakeholders, strategies for resource-rich countries and recent case studies.
Critical elections in Nigeria at national and state levels are scheduled for April. These elections will determine not only new leadership but whether democratic processes can gain traction. To assess the prospects for free and fair elections and to anticipate electoral outcomes, Africare and the U.S. Institute of Peace will host a public workshop on February 22 from 10:00am to 11:30am.
On February 18, USIP launched the Special Report "Making Peace in Afghanistan: the Missing Political Strategy" and convened a panel discussion to discuss the creation of a political strategy enabling sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
How are the roles of "soldier" and "victim" defined by post-conflict programs? Most disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs are limited in the ways in which issues specific to female combatants are addressed. At this public event panelists examined the particular challenges faced by female ex-combatants in post-conflict environments, and ways in which reintegration agencies and post-conflict programs can integrate gender into their work.
On February 9, 2011, USIP launched a new Special Report entitled "Reforming Pakistan's Police and Law Enforcement Infrastructure: Is It Too Flawed to Fix?" Panelists examined the obstacles to reform and highlighted the importance of civilian law enforcement in Pakistan in light of the challenges the country faces.
In November 2005, the United Nations announced the completion of its program to disarm and demobilize more than 60,000 members of the Afghanistan Military Forces. How did the simultaneous Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and Security Sector Reform (SSR) impact the Afghan government’s ability to assist Coalition Forces to create a safe and secure environment?
With preliminary results on Sudan's January referendum expected in early February, and final results coming soon thereafter USIP held a public event, "Perspectives on Sudan's Referendum." Panelists at this event reflected on their experiences in Sudan during the referendum, and then looked forward to the challenges ahead for both northern and southern Sudan.
On January 31, 2011, USIP and Brookings convened a conference centering on the complex question of Pakistan's future, and on the possibilities and problems Pakistan's future may present for U.S. interests in the country.