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.
At least 3,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are operating in Haiti. Struggling with insufficient capacity in the face of overwhelming poverty and environmental disasters, the government has been unable to coordinate or capitalize on what some in Haiti refer to as a “Republic of NGOs."
Chad's internal political crisis has resulted in coups, the formation of armed groups, and a vicious cycle feuling the conflict in Darfur. What obstacles and opportunities do the Chadian and diaspora civil society groups face in resolving the crisis?
Jehan Perera is executive director of the National Peace Council, an independent peace organization based in Colombo, and a regular analyst of Sri Lankan conflict and peace dynamics in online and print media. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu is executive director of the Center for Policy Alternatives, a think tank based in Colombo and dedicated to strengthening public input into governance and policy through research and analysis. Our two guests will speak about the current political and social co...
Last week, three Americans were detained in Iran after straying into the country from northern Iraq. Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal were arrested for "illegal entry" and were reportedly deemed CIA spies by the Iranian police. The U.S. government vehemently denied this claim.
Sheikh Dr. Khalid al-Atiya, first deputy speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq, spoke about these challenging issues and answered questions from the audience.
Since the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) last year, which committed the U.S. to an unconditional withdrawal of U.S. on a three-year timeline, the withdrawal issue has receded from the American public debate about Iraq. President Obama has set his own timeline that fits comfortably within the SOFA. How much and how fast the U.S. leaves Iraq will nonetheless have a critical effect on U.S. strategic interests in the region. Some Iraqi leaders have publicly stated their openness...
Dr. David Kilcullen and Dr. Andrew Wilder explore the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the relationship between successful counter-insurgency operations and state-building efforts.
Since the internal armed conflict in Guatemala ended in 1996, millions of dollars have been spent on transitional justice, but the state's efforts to create an effective justice system have largely failed -- obliging many Guatemalans to create their own coping mechanisms for war-time atrocities, and severely limiting the effectiveness of ongoing transitional justice efforts.
During Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s visit to Washington, D.C. the prime minister left open the possibility of continuing the U.S. military presence in his country beyond 2011, when the current Status of Forces Agreement expires.