For Immediate Release, January 22, 2010
Contact: Allison Sturma, 202/429-4725

(Washington) – As the relief efforts continue in the aftermath of last week's earthquake, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) offers experts for insight into the situation, including rule of law, U.N. peacekeeping issues, and disaster management projects.

Overall Coverage

USIP offers two experts with extensive expiterience in Haiti who are available for comment on the overall impact of the earthquake on Haiti's situation:

Robert Maguire, chairman of USIP's Haiti Working Group, former senior fellow, and associate professor at Trinity Washington University

Maguire has been working on Haiti since the mid-1970s in a combination of academic, nonprofit and government roles.

Office: 202/884-9585
E-mail: remaguire@verizon.net

Bob Perito, senior program officer with the Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations

Perito directs USIP's Haiti programs and is the director of the Security Sector Reform Working Group

Office: 202/429-4173
E-mail: rperito@usip.org        

Rule of Law

Vivienne O'Connor, senior rule of law adviser with the Rule of Law Center of Innovation

O'Conner works to facilitate criminal law reform in Haiti through training and technical assistance.

Office: 202/429-3898
E-mail: voconnor@usip.org

Colette Rausch, acting director of the Rule of Law Center of Innovation

Rausch oversees USIP's legal reform rule of law work in Haiti.

Office: 202/429-3860
E-mail: crausch@usip.org      

U.N. Peacekeeping Operations – impact on the United Nation Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):

Abi Williams, vice president for the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention

In addition to serving as the director of strategic planning in the Office of the United Nations Secretary General, Williams worked with the U.N. in Haiti for two years.

Office: 202/429-4772
E-mail: awilliams@usip.org

Disaster Relief

Mary Hope Schwoebel, senior program officer with the Education and Training Center/International

In addition to providing conflict resolution training to non-governmental organizations in Haiti, Schwoebel has experience providing training for disaster management personnel.

Office: 202/429-3837
E-mail: mschwoebel@usip.org

Selected Resources

• Haiti Country Page – This website provides an overview of USIP work on Haiti. 
• Model Codes for Post-Conflict Criminal Justice in Haiti – This website details USIP's work to strength the rule of law in Haiti
• Prospects for Haiti's New Government – Published just prior to the earthquake, this Peace Brief details the situation facing the new Haitian government
• What Role for the U.N. in Haiti? – A USIP Peace Briefing, this November 2009 publication describes the MINUSTAH