In the Field

(USIP/Staff Photo)
February 2010

Eleven years ago, Kosovo was a war zone on the world’s front pages, an ethnic and nationalistic cauldron in which both national and international laws seemed an utter irrelevance.  When the guns at last fell silent, Colette Rausch worked for several years in Kosovo as part of the international community’s attempt to construct the rule of law amid the rubble.  Last fall, she returned to find out whether, from the perspective of the people of Kosovo, the international community's efforts had been invaluable or in vain.

Participants at Erbil conference. (Photo: U.S. Institute of Peace)
January 2010

On August 3-4, USIP’s Center of Innovation for Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding conducted a two-day youth summit in Erbil as part of the "Peace Media for Iraqi Youth" project. USIP, along with four local NGOs, brought together 30 Iraqi youth (ages 14-18) from across the country to participate in activities aimed at supporting a new and growing community of young Iraqis committed to peacebuilding.
 

Countries: Iraq | Issue Areas: Post-Conflict Activities, Youth
Photo: NY Times
September 2009

USIP's Maria Jessop-Mandel writes about the Institute's recent human rights workshop, "Putting Human Rights Values into Action," for Iraqi professors held in Beirut, Lebanon. The program explored three human rights-related themes specific to the Iraqi context -- children’s rights, women's equality and academic freedom -- and ways these professors could more effectively teach human rights in their classrooms, and ultimately learn from each other's experiences.

August 2009

USIP specialists discussed the tools and resources available online for peace-building with 60 university and 20 high school students, visiting the United States sponsored by the Department of State under the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program.

mnf-iraq.com
February 2009

On February 15, I traveled to Baghdad with Julie Montgomery in order to meet with civil society organizations, media and government officials involved in youth and/or media sectors.

Credit: USIP
October 2008

In the rugged highlands of Laikipia at the Gallman Memorial Wildlife Conservancy, Kenyan youth met for three days to turn energy and creativity into projects with goals, targeted audiences and intended outcomes.  The workshop was facilitated by USIP Senior Program Officer Jacki Wilson with consultant Dr. Eran Fraenkel.

August 2008

The Institute’s Education and Training Center/International hosted a group of Iraqi youth from many parts of Iraq on August 25.

March 2008

In March 2008, USIP brought 40 young Iraqi leaders from Iraq to Dharamsala, India for five days of intense dialogue. The young leaders, from all professional backgrounds, also represented the diversity of Iraqi society. The dialogue experience was described as "transformative" as the leaders explored concepts of tolerance, diversity, democracy, citizenship and life in a war zone.
 

Citizens of Erbil, Iraq in May 2009. (Photo: USIP)

USIP’s Center of Innovation for Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding organized an expert working group on April 26-27 in Erbil, Iraq to discuss how to create a multimedia program that will provide Iraqi teenagers the tools to help them grow into independent, empowered citizens within a complex society. USIP brought together 25 experts for the working group, consisting of educators, media, youth NGO representatives, government officials and USIP-trained conflict resolution facilitators.

Countries: Iraq | Issue Areas: Youth