http://www.usip.org The United States Institute of Peace is an independent nonpartisan national institution established and funded by Congress. Our mission is to help prevent, manage, and resolve international conflicts by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by our direct involvement in peacebuilding efforts around the world. Tue, 2 Sept 2008 16:07:00 EDT en-us http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1017_sustain_econ.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1017_sustain_econ.html Oct 17 - The Center for Sustainable Economies invites you to a Conversation with Karen Hayes, Extractive Industries Program Director, Pact. Mining, the mainstay of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is also at the heart of pervasive economic, political and social instability. Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:07:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1017_pakistan_extremism.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1017_pakistan_extremism.html Oct 17 - For decades, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region has served as home to armed groups of Islamist insurgents fighting in Afghanistan, Kashmir, and beyond. Since the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, most of those groups, including al Qaeda and the leadership of the Afghan Taliban and other anti-government elements, have used bases in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) to plan, train, arm, and recruit. Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1015_reform_toolkit.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1015_reform_toolkit.html Oct 15 - Security sector reform (SSR) is a critical component of the transition from post-conflict to democratic governance. Though often overlooked in the post-conflict reconstruction efforts, SSR focuses human rights and security on the ground, in addition to creation of structures for civilian oversight. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:07:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1015_columbia_reconciliation.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1015_columbia_reconciliation.html Oct 15 - Colombia’s National Committee of Reparation and Reconciliation (CNRR) includes an investigative arm known as Historical Memory (MH). Historical Memory is charged with producing an account of the origins and evolution of Colombia’s internal armed conflict, giving special attention to the perspectives of victims. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 8:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1007_road_map.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1007_road_map.html Oct 7 - On Tuesday, October 7th the US Army will introduce a significant change to pre-existing doctrine with Field Manual 3-07 Stability Operations. Like the counterinsurgency manual before it, this first piece of major doctrine dedicated exclusively to stabilization and reconstruction again raises the visibility of irregular challenges, underscoring their increased prominence in contemporary national security decisionmaking and planning. Tue, 7 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1006_nepal_yadav.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1006_nepal_yadav.html Oct 6 - Nepal has experienced a series of transformative events over the past two years as it has transitioned from a Hindu Kingdom with a Maoist insurgency to a republic with a Maoist-led government. The April 10 Constituent Assembly elections were a critical step towards democracy in Nepal - and an affirmation of the Nepalese people's desire for continued movement towards a peaceful and prosperous "new" Nepal. Mon, 6 Oct 2008 16:07:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1003_iraq_recommendations.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1003_iraq_recommendations.html Oct 3 - The next U.S. president will be the first to inherit a U.S. military presence in Iraq, and as such will have the opportunity to craft a fundamentally new strategy there. The incoming administration will receive a barrage of advice on Iraq policy and will be pressured by forces both at home and around the world to dramatically disengage from Iraq. Fri, 3 Oct 2008 9:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1003_popal_afghanistan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1003_popal_afghanistan.html/guid> Oct 3 - Expanding the legitimacy, competence, and reach of government in Afghanistan is perhaps the central goal of Afghan and international efforts to stabilize the country. In 2007, President Karzai created the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to spearhead this effort. Fri, 3 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/0926_russia_west.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/0926_russia_west.html Sept 26 - The Russia-Georgia conflict has had a dramatic impact on the region, and raised new concerns about Russia’s role in the World. Russia’s recognition of the Georgian separatist territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has also reopened a debate between Russia and the West over the meaning of sovereignty and independence. Fri, 26 Sept 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/0917_child_soldiers.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/0917_child_soldiers.html Sept 17 - The prolific use of children as soldiers and in other roles in violent combat is a serious global problem. This forum will be an opportunity for participants to improve their understanding of the impact of violent conflict on children. Tue, 2 Sept 2008 16:07:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr209.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr208.html Security sector reform (SSR) is essential in the transition from war to peace in conflict zones and is a topic of urgent importance. This report discusses definitions of SSR, the field's emergence, and challenges in current SSR implementation, among other topics. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:06:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr208.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr208.html The UN mission in Haiti's successful campaign against the country's gangs set a precedent for future missions. Based on field research, authors Michael Dziedzic and Robert Perito explore the conduct of military and police operations, Haitians' overwhelmingly positive views of the UN intervention and lessons learned. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:06:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0827_zimbabwe.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0827_zimbabwe.html Zimbabwe is saddled with two million percent annual price increases, rampant corruption and pervasive unemployment. Experts believe that an effort to reform the country's political corruption and irresponsible monetary policies will be central to establishing social and economic stability in the long run. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:19:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0815_kenya.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0815_kenya.html This briefing by Sheila Mwiandi explores various dimensions of Kenya's post-election IDP problems, including elections-related issues prior to 2008, challenges to relocating IDPs and strategies for improving the situation. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:03:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/peaceops/metrics_framework.html http://www.usip.org/peaceops/metrics_framework.html An Institute-developed methodology for measuring the transformation from war to peace is now being used by the Foreign Service Institute and the Army War College. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:09:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/in_the_field/liberia/index.html http://www.usip.org/in_the_field/liberia/index.html To assist Liberia's recovery after a 14 year civil war, USIP has led an unique program based on both formal institutions and local practices of justice. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:09:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/library/truth.html http://www.usip.org/library/truth.html This digital collection contains decrees and background materials for truth commissions and related entities for 24 countries. USIP created the commission, part of its digital library in international conflict management, to support the Institute's efforts to promote the rule of law. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:09:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/newsmedia/releases/2008/0627_npec.html http://www.usip.org/newsmedia/releases/2008/0627_npec.html Three high school students—one each from Tennessee, Arkansas and Virginia—have won scholarships of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively as national, first and second place prizes in the National Peace Essay Contest (NPEC) conducted each year by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:12:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr207.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr207.html This Special Report report details USIP's assessment of the "1207 Program," an example of the U.S. military's growing involvement in integrated "whole-of-government" approaches to U.S. security assistance programs. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:17:00 EDT