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.
On June 2, the U.S. Institute of Peace and Oxfam America hosted discussion on how, in the aftermath of the May 23-24 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, to strengthen the humanitarian system and increase the ability of constructive national leaders and civil society organizations to avoid cycles of crisis, conflict and violence.
The U.S. Institute of Peace is pleased to have co-sponsored the third day of the 2016 Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) Annual Conference, “Next Gen Peace: Expand. Advance. Influence.” AfP’s 2016 Annual Conference examined the newest developments in the peacebuilding field, and captured the “view from the edges,” where peacebuilding is innovating, “looking around corners” and scanning the horizon to revolutionize the field.
Recent years have seen a rise in the passage and enforcement of blasphemy laws in countries including Pakistan, Sudan and Saudi Arabia. On May 26, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Senate Human Rights Caucus held a discussion co-sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace and Freedom House.
Women in Pakistan are murdered routinely, and usually with impunity, for allegedly staining the “honor” of their families—often by marrying over the objection of their relatives, and even for glancing at a man in the street. Nearly 1,000 such “honor killings” are reported publicly each year, but uncounted others add to a largely hidden tide of brutality. Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy threw a spotlight on this violent seam of life in her country—and won an Academy Award—with her documentary, “A Girl in the River.” She screened and discussed her film on May 16.
On May 13, Afghanistan’s First Lady Rula Ghani discussed her country’s history of violent conflict and recent progress and challenges in reforming the justice sector, including for women.
On May 10, the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum held a discussion at the U.S. Institute of Peace on women, social media and extremism.
Experts and U.S. officials discussed lessons learned recently in Burma, also known as Myanmar—and of ways they may be applicable to the U.S. role in similar environments.
The longstanding United Nations call for countries to adopt National Action Plans to involve women in issues of national security repeatedly stumbles in much of the Middle East and North Africa. The U.S. Institute of Peace had a discussion on May 4 on how these roadblocks can be overcome, especially amid the current upheaval.
A staggering 230 million children live in lands that have become battlefields, and extremist groups exploit their traumas to recruit youth to violence. Yet from these same embattled lands, young leaders emerge, working to heal divisions in their communities and build peace. They often face large social or political forces of violent conflict, and even threats of suppression or violence by combatants. As they do, how can others help them sustain the personal resilience on which their work depends? On May 4, USIP hosted a global discussion online.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke at the U.S. Institute of Peace on April 26 on relations with the U.S. and their importance as an anchor for regional progress and prosperity. The Georgian leader addressed his country’s efforts toward economic and democratic progress and peace as vital sources of stability in an increasingly volatile region.