Featured Event
Events
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.
![India-Pakistan Crises and the American Role](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2017-01/FTZ_6704-X3.jpg?itok=fS2i8iPs)
India-Pakistan Crises and the American Role
Eight days after the prime ministers of India and Pakistan met suddenly in December to renew diplomatic dialogue between their countries, a squad of guerrilla fighters, apparently from Pakistan , disrupted the effort with an attack on India’s Pathankot air force base. The governments quickly postponed a planned meeting of their foreign secretaries. A pattern of such crises has recurred over the past decade and a half, and the United States often has sought to quietly mediate to avoid war between the nuclear-armed neighbors. What lessons can we learn from those experiences, and how should U.S. diplomats prepare for future disruptions? A panel of scholars and analysts who have helped manage U.S. relations in South Asia joined USIP’s Moeed Yusuf to examine these and related issues.
![The Future of Peacekeeping in Africa: Lessons From Ghana](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/031116-futire-peacekeeping-africa-event.jpg?itok=DHE7PXb1)
The Future of Peacekeeping in Africa: Lessons From Ghana
Peacekeeping missions today face some of the most complex environments in their history. In September 2015, President Obama reaffirmed U.S. support for United Nations peace operations and directed a range of actions to strengthen them for a new era. Ghana, with its long history of contributing to peacekeeping and with soldiers in 12 of 16 U.N. missions, provides lessons in effective training, policymaking and non-violent conflict resolution.
![Women in the Peace Process: Making Peace Last in Colombia](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2017-01/20160318-Colombia-Peace-IWD-TOB.jpg?itok=r3URZqIR)
Women in the Peace Process: Making Peace Last in Colombia
Women have played groundbreaking roles in Colombia’s peace process between the government and the country’s largest rebel group, the FARC. With a peace agreement in sight and on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the U.S. Institute of Peace held an event on March 8 that briefed on the status of women in peace processes, with a focus on the Colombia case. The discussion was co-sponsored by USIP’s Colombia Peace Forum and the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum.
![Peace in Mali? Political Transition and the Extremist Challenge in the Sahel](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2017-01/Peace%20in%20Mali-%20Political%20Transition%20and%20the%20Extremist%20Challenge%20in%20the%20Sahel-2-X3.jpg?itok=cqxCTosK)
Peace in Mali? Political Transition and the Extremist Challenge in the Sahel
The U.S. Institute of Peace brought together U.S. government officials and experts on March 3 for a discussion on Mali’s transition, U.S. policies, and the specific role in Mali of USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives.
![Advancing Reconciliation and Development in Sri Lanka](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/20160225-Sri-Lanka-FM-Samaraweera-event.jpg?itok=3q8FhGKM)
Advancing Reconciliation and Development in Sri Lanka
Six years after the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the country’s new president set out to address longstanding challenges of reconciliation, accountability and political grievance built up during decades of the country’s violent internal conflicts. On February 25, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera for a discussion, co-sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, of how the initiatives to advance reconciliation, post-conflict development and stronger democratic institutions are progressing.
![From Civil Resistance to Peaceful Resolution](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2017-01/CR%206840-X3_0.jpg?itok=0cRoYo32)
From Civil Resistance to Peaceful Resolution
Since the Arab revolutions of 2011, unarmed resistance has become a major force in global politics, from Tunis to Tahrir Square and on to Ferguson, Missouri. Nonviolent movements have historically outperformed their violent counterparts, but they don’t always succeed. On February 25 the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a panel of experts in this field of study and an Emmy-award winning news producer examine the challenges of building and sustaining nonviolent movements, and discuss lessons for scholars, activists, policymakers and practitioners.
![Colombia: Human Rights Defenders Building Sustainable Peace](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2017-01/CDHR%206637-X3.jpg?itok=WSipYJyW)
Colombia: Human Rights Defenders Building Sustainable Peace
Despite widespread optimism that a peace agreement will soon be reached in Havana, the war in Colombia continues, marked by a rise in attacks on human rights defenders. The U.S. Institute of Peace and its co-sponsors held an event to hear four winners of last year’s National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia discuss the challenges they and their fellow advocates face in their regions, and the role of human rights defenders in building sustainable peace in Colombia.
![President Juan Manuel Santos in Washington, D.C.](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/20161203-President-Santos-event.jpg?itok=oPkqNo9k)
President Juan Manuel Santos in Washington, D.C.
On February 3, President Santos discussed Colombia's progress in security and governance over the last 15 years. He also reviewed the state of the negotiations with the FARC, the prospects for a country at peace, and the challenges that lie ahead.
![Money, War and the Business of Power in the Horn of Africa](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/20160128-Horn-of-Africa-event.jpg?itok=LaNlg2bO)
Money, War and the Business of Power in the Horn of Africa
On January 28, a panel of regional experts, including Alex de Waal, author of The Real Politics of the Horn of Africa: Money, War and the Business of Power, discussed the complex interplay between politics and money in the region and the implications for the international community.
![Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution: On 5th Anniversary, What’s Next?](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2017-01/TJR%205018-X3.jpg?itok=chB1cuRR)
Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution: On 5th Anniversary, What’s Next?
Five years ago this month, the Tunisian people’s protests calling for respect of their civil liberties resulted in the downfall of the 24-year authoritarian regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the start of a rocky but largely peaceful process toward an inclusive political system. The U.S. Institute of Peace and the International Republican Institute commemorated the 5th Anniversary of the Jasmine Revolution and examined the issues facing the country in the coming year and how the international community can help.