A panel of experts will discuss how programs and policies addressing gender-based violence must take into account male gender issues.  Their expertise draws upon significant field work experience in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They will consider the practitioner challenges toward understanding and engaging men and boys in finding sustainable solutions to gender-based violence in zones of conflict.

Gender

The enormous human and financial costs of current conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and elsewhere have prompted renewed attention to our ability to prevent conflicts from becoming violent. USIP brought together leading thinkers on the concepts, tools and strategies for preventing wars instead of fighting them. 

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

Even though the mismanagement of natural resources lies at the heart of many enduring conflicts, the sustainable and equitable use of petroleum, mineral and agricultural resources could help prevent conflict and promote lasting peace.  This event examined the underpinnings of resource management in resource-rich, conflict-prone states and explored options for conflict-sensitive strategies that could break the cycle of violence and lay the foundation for sustainable economic development.

Environment;  Economics

A panel of experts considered the goals and objectives of health programs in Afghanistan, what expectations can be for health programs in achieving those goals, and the roles of civilian agencies and the military in carrying out health programs. The panelists addressed current controversies about health programs in areas of armed conflict, including the military’s role in health programs for civilian populations as well as the role of USAID in supporting military objectives.

In the wake of significant fraud in Afghanistan’s 2009 presidential and provincial council elections, the Afghan government has announced that it will proceed to hold parliamentary elections on schedule in May 2010. Yet few if any reforms have been made, and there is little to indicate that the conduct of the parliamentary elections will be any better than last year's vote.

Local ownership is essential for successful security sector reform (SSR), but donor countries often determine priorities and programs. What practical steps can policymakers and practitioners take to encourage local ownership of reform efforts? USIP's SSR Working Group hosted an expert panel to discuss this issue.

Can health interventions in regions of conflict advance the health needs of civilians while simultaneously fostering greater cooperation and contributing to a stable peace?  This panel reviewed these questions in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where a considerable number of efforts to foster cooperation in health have been undertaken.

In Muslim tribal cultures, such as in Somalia and Yemen, conflicts traditionally involve tribes, clans, and extended families and are perpetuated through violent revenge, sometimes over generations. Conflict resolution traditionally consists of blood payments, with religious leaders and elders playing the role of mediators.