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Citizens of fragile and conflict-affected states confront threats to their security and livelihoods on a daily basis. Nearly 1.6 billion people are forced to live in the midst of violence perpetuated by a diverse array of actors - from political extremists to transnational criminal syndicates. Too often these most vulnerable and marginalized are left without a voice in their personal and political future and are denied adequate forums for addressing their grievances. On January 12, 2012 USIP brought together rule of law practitioners from the field and policymakers from Washington, DC to discuss these critical issues.

USIP has been conducting innovative research on the ground in Afghanistan and Pakistan about the challenges and opportunities in a peace process for Afghanistan. On June 13, 2011, USIP hosted a discussion about what the key research findings suggest about how to move toward a durable peace.

There has been a surge of enthusiasm and activity around crisis mapping recently, thanks to high profile success stories such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, and Kenya. But, as the field matures, how do we turn this information into insight that engages and empowers  local communities in conflict prevention and peacebuilding?  On June 17, 2011, USIP and Ushahidi, the crisis mapping pioneer, explored these questions with mappers from conflict zone countries and policymakers in Washington, D.C.

Almost ten years after the devastating attacks of 9/11, the United States engaged in two wars that sent tens of thousands of American troops to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. A new survey conducted recently by the American Red Cross about the attitudes of the first post-9/11 generation of American youth reveal for the first time their opinions about the rules of war and what is or is not acceptable behavior during wartime.

On June 3, 2011, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the American Red Cross collaborated to host a timely discussion on the relevance and importance of international humanitarian law at a time when civil conflicts are also erupting in North Africa and the Middle East.

Violent wars disrupt the social fabric of communities and impose severe limitations for women’s economic access during and after conflict. Nevertheless, women entrepreneurs in war-torn societies are reshaping the business landscape and stretching beyond the micro-lending niche. The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), hosted a public event focused on women and their understudied yet significant entrepreneurial activities underway in conflict and post-conflict societies.

On February 18, USIP held a launch of the Special Report "Making Peace in Afghanistan: the Missing Political Strategy" and a panel discussion to explore a strategy which will enable a sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

A panel featuring Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Afghan Interior Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi discussed the challenges facing the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the role the ANSF will play as security responsibilities transition from international to Afghan forces. This event took place on February 25, 2011.

In November 2005, the United Nations announced the completion of its program to disarm and demobilize more than 60,000 members of the Afghanistan Military Forces. Coincidentally, the U.S. was building a new Afghanistan National Army to face the threat from a resurgent Taliban. What was the relationship between these seemingly incongruous actions? This event took place on February 3, 2011.

Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri discusses his fatwa against Al-Qaida, Taliban, and other radical organizations and how he and his organizations have been working toward reducing the spread of extremism. He has explicitly declared terrorism as an act of disbelief (kufr) in Islam, and his peacebuilding activities are bringing youth away from radical ideology. This event took place on November 10, 2010.

This is event discusses the linkages between corruption and conflict affected states, the panel will present strategies to address corruption that are conflict-sensitive and peace-building. This event took place on November 8, 2010.