Past Events

Since March, Syrians have taken to the streets calling for an end to the regime of Bashar al-Assad and a transition to democracy. However, the Syrian opposition has struggled to establish a unified leadership. The United States Institute of Peace hosted the first public discussion in the U.S. with founding members of the Syrian National Council, including opposition figures who are among the leadership of the SNC Council.

Renewed internal conflict threatens Haiti's recovery.  On October 12, 2011, a panel of distinguished experts discussed the sources of conflict in Haiti and the challenges facing its security institutions.

On September 23, President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application to the U.N. Secretary-General for Palestine's admission as a full state member of the United Nations. What is needed to move the peace process forward? Is the diplomatic track in sync with the Palestinian state-building effort? What are the options for U.S. policy.

Hosted by Congressman Russ Carnahan, and co-hosted by the Office of Senator John Kerry and the Office of Senator Barbara Boxer, the U.S. Institute of Peace, Fork Films, the Institute for Inclusive Security, and Vital Voices, collaborated on the pre-screening and panel discussion of the new film, "Peace Unveiled" on October 5, 2011 at the Congressional Visitors Center Theater in Washington, DC.

USIP welcomes Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, on September 29 to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts to consolidate recent economic progress and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.

Over the past two years Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), Eric P. Schwartz has led the State Department’s principal humanitarian bureau.  At this event, Assistant Secretary Schwartz will discuss the international humanitarian challenges confronting the United States and the U.S. interest in a coherent and effective response.

After 42 years, Libya is free from Muammar al-Qaddafi’s rule, and while fighting drags on in parts of the country, the Libyan people have begun the difficult work of building a new society and a new future.  Minister of Infrastructure and Reconstruction, Dr. Ahmed Jehani, discussed the view from the ground in Libya, the process of post-conflict institution and peacebuilding in his country, and the role of the US and broader international community in supporting Libya, and the Libyan people during this transition.

After three and half years of independent existence and two nation-wide elections, Kosovo has gained considerable experience with the functioning of institutions that are vital to a democracy, including a free press. Jeta Xharra, Kosovo’s leading investigative journalist and host of “Life in Kosovo” on public television channel RTK, addressed the status of the media and freedom of the press in Kosovo on September 21 from 10-12pm. 

This Blogs & Bullets meeting brought together the companies that sift through and sell this data with the activists that create it and the policy-makers who use it. The event looked at the cutting-edge of technologies for analysis with experts from around the world in an effort to expand our ability to harness these new platforms for conflict management and peacebuilding. 

The U.S. Institute of Peace, in collaboration with the Office of Congressman Russ Carnahan, Fork Films, and the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, hosted a viewing of the film, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” on September 13, 2011 at the Congressional Visitors Center Theater in Washington, DC.

On September 13, 2011, the Latin American and Hemispheric Studies Program of George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and USIP hosted a meeting featuring the Honorable Michaelle Jean, special envoy to Haiti for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and former governor general of Canada. 

In the aftermath of war, two processes are vital to successfully manage the transition to stability: disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR).  On September 12, 2011, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a panel of distinguished experts with combined experience implementing DDR and SSR in Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, the Balkans, Somalia and Haiti.

Never before have the media played a more integral role in conflict management. At the same time, funding agencies and policymaking bodies have greater expectations for demonstrating impact and efficacy in this area. To meet these growing needs, media development practitioners, donors, international broadcasters and methodologists have collectively authored guiding principles to improve monitoring and evaluation of media interventions in conflict zones. On September 9, 2011 the Caux Guiding Principles were presented by those organizations who convened the unprecedented working session in Caux, Switzerland, where drafting of these Principles began.

Please join us for a special event featuring Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who will discuss her August 2011 trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a member of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Shaheen will offer a unique congressional perspective on diplomatic and security conditions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as insights on the policy challenges facing the United States.

Webcast: This event will be webcast live beginning at 9:00am EDT on September 8, 2011 at www.usip.org/webcast.