The return of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier to Haiti complicated the country’s political crisis and negatively impacted the ability of the international community to respond to the country’s mix of acute and chronic problems. Thomas Adams, the U.S. State Department’s Special Coordinator for Haiti, and a panel of distinguished experts looked ahead to the coming year.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Environment;  Economics

The U.S. Institute of Peace Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program and Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution in partnership with the Washington Network on Children in Armed Conflict (WNCAC) will co-host a public event exploring what has been achieved by transitional justice mechanisms over the last few years in terms of promoting and protecting the rights of children affected by armed conflict and widespread violence, and discuss what else could be done.

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Reykjavik Summit the National Academy of Sciences Committee on International Security and Arms Control (CISAC) and the USIP Center of Innovation: Science, Technology & Peacebuilding held a symposium on science and diplomacy in support of international security to examine the roles of transparency and confidence building in 21st Century nuclear security.

Global Policy

The U.S. Institute of Peace, in partnership with Partners for Democratic Change, hosted a public event on January 19th  highlighting the challenges faced by militaries in the 21st century regarding the role of women in modern armed forces and how to bring authentic gender mainstreaming into the military. Additionally, panelists discussed the role that civil society can play in security sector transformation, especially as it pertains to gender.

Gender

The U.S. Institute of Peace, in partnership with George Mason University (GMU) and the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), will conduct the Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise (SENSE) simulation. The primary target audience is the USG interagency community, but other interested parties are welcome. Participation is free, but space will be limited. Lunch/snacks will be provided; participants must commit to the full three-day simulation.

Education & Training;  Environment;  Economics

Please join us as Iraqi representatives and USIP experts assess the success of efforts to establish a genuine national partnership and discuss priorities for Iraq’s new government in 2011.

Cote d'Ivoire is at an impasse following the November 28 presidential run-off election between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara. Panelists will discuss current developments in Cote d'Ivoire and their potential impact on efforts to organize credible elections in Africa.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

USIP featured an introductory briefing of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) followed by a meeting of USIP's Security Sector Reform Working Group to discuss findings of a forthcoming USIP Special Report on "The European Union’s Experience With Security Sector Reform."