Civil society actors have an immense role in peacebuilding and resolving local conflicts, especially when the rule of law is ineffective or absent. Where unreliable governance, weak economy and natural catastrophes have devastated and displaced millions of people, the burden of strengthening communities and providing services to local institutions is on civil society actors. With the added complexity of terrorist threats, how are Pakistani civil society actors actively working to counter extremist narratives, reduce violence and foster a culture of peace? 

The U.S. Institute of Peace, in collaboration with the Institute for Inclusive Security, hosted a panel of experts to examine the ways in which diverse civil society actors, including youth and women, as well as the media, religious and business communities, confront real conflicts with collaborative problem-solving approaches.

Speakers

• Mossarat Qadeem
  Executive Director, PAIMAN Alumni Trust, Pakistan
• Mehreen Farooq
  Research Fellow, World Organization of Research and Development
• Miki Jacevic
  Chief Training Officer, The Institute for Inclusive Security
• Peter Weinberger
  Sr. Program Officer, Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, USIP
• Qamar-ul Huda, Discussant
  Sr. Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center, USIP
• Kathleen Kuehnast, Moderator
  Director, Gender and Peacebuilding Center, USIP

Explore Further

• Learn more about the Religion and Peacemaking Center
• Learn more about the Gender and Peacebuilding Center
• Explore the courses offered by the Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding
• Learn more about PAIMAN Alumni Trust
• Learn more about the World Organization for Resource Development and Education (WORDE)
• Learn more about the work of the Institute for Inclusive Security