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.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley led a discussion September 18 of how the United States and its partners should respond to the greatest displacement of people since World War II. With former British foreign secretary David Miliband, USIP President Nancy Lindborg and other panelists, they focused on the steps needed to address this crisis at its roots.
As Yemen’s multi-sided conflict grabs headlines with its devastating human toll, local activists continue to press for peace and democracy. Tawakkol Karman, a winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize who is known as “The Mother of the Revolution” in Yemen for her impact as a journalist and women’s rights advocate, offered insights, reflections, and hope from her on-the-ground experience.
Just because a movement of civic resistance establishes itself as nonviolent doesn’t mean it won’t experience violence in the course of the confrontation, however long the campaign might last. On Thursday, August 20, 2015, USIP's Global Campus hosted a Twitter Forum with activists and scholars to discuss nonviolent movements.
Georgian Defense Minister Tinatin Khidasheli, in Washington to meet with top U.S. officials, made her remarks at USIP August 19. She discussed how her country is navigating regional security threats that have deepened in the 18 months since Russia attacked Ukraine.
On August 18th, USIP held a Twitter discussion with the Times’ lead reporter on the series, Ian Urbina, about impunity at sea and the connected issues of justice, international security, and human rights.
Ambassador Dan Feldman, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, assessed regional security issues and efforts to open peace talks with the Taliban in a presentation on August 5 at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Comments also were provided by USIP Chairman of the Board of Directors, Stephen J. Hadley, and USIP’s Vice President for South and Central Asia, Dr. Andrew Wilder, and then the discussion was opened up to the audience.
As President Obama visits Kenya and Ethiopia this week, USIP hosted a discussion on Twitter to examine the growing political and security issues affecting the broader region.
An expert panel explored the outcome of the historic nuclear negotiations with Iran at an event sponsored by eight Washington think tanks on July 23. The discussion was held at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
The President of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, gave remarks and answered questions at the U.S. Institute of Peace on July 22, during his first visit to the United States since taking office. The event was co-sponsored with the Atlantic Council, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
On July 21 at USIP, experts from civil society, the United Nations, academia, and the U.S. government discussed ways to include women in efforts to counter violent extremism. The debate directly informed U.S. government officials preparing for major international conferences on these issues in fall 2015.