Events

	December 9, 2009 International Engagement with Somalia Serious and contentious questions surround the issue of how the international community should relate to Somalia. Should major support be given to the Transitional Federal Government? Should the African Union peacekeeping force be expanded? Countries: Africa, Somalia \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Humanitarian Efforts, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Security and Strategy, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	November 23, 2009 Displacement in Colombia With more than four million internally displaced Colombians- an average of more than a quarter of a million people annually in recent years- and almost half a million more forced to flee across national borders in search of safety, Colombia now ranks just behind Sudan in the numbers of people displaced by the conflict. Women, youth, Afro-Colombians, and indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected by the conflict and by the displacement it causes. Countries: Colombia \| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Human Rights, Population and Diaspora, Transitional Justice, Women
	November 12, 2009 Creating Structures for Peace and Justice: Experiences from Colombia and Beyond Representatives of the Partners for Democratic Change's new Center in Colombia, the United States Institute of Peace, and the Due Process of Law Foundation will host a roundtable discussion about these mechanisms for democratizing justice at the community level. Discussion with invited experts will explore other experiences of community dispute resolution, as well as the challenges community justice mechanisms face and how they have been addressed. Countries: Colombia, Peru \| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Peacebuilding, Post-Conflict Activities, Rule of Law
	October 20, 2009 Sudan’s 2011 Referendum and Beyond The upcoming 2010 elections and 2011 referendum in Sudan are the culminating events of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement. However, looking at 2011 and beyond, there is increasing concern that Sudan may revert to violence rather than move forward towards the sustainable peace envisioned by the CPA. Countries: Sudan \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Early Warning & Conflict Prevention, Environment and Natural Resources, Governance, Post-Conflict Activities
	October 2, 2009 Views on CPA Implementation from the Government of Southern Sudan Born out of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has established itself as a functioning entity but also faces significant difficulties. On October 2, USIP hosts two GoSS ministers for a discussion about Southern Sudan's progress, internal and external challenges, and the road ahead as Sudan approaches the 2010 national elections and 2011 referendum. Countries: Sudan \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Economics and Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Governance, Post-Conflict Activities
	August 28, 2009 Supporting Sustainable Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Jehan Perera is executive director of the National Peace Council, an independent peace organization based in Colombo, and a regular analyst of Sri Lankan conflict and peace dynamics in online and print media. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu is executive director of the Center for Policy Alternatives, a think tank based in Colombo and dedicated to strengthening public input into governance and policy through research and analysis. Our two guests will speak about the current political and social context in Sri Lanka and the pathways to a sustainable peace and reconciliation. Countries: Asia, Sri Lanka \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Peacebuilding
	July 15, 2009 Engaging Hamas: Risks and Opportunities Based on a recent USIP report "Hamas: Ideological Rigidity, Political Flexibility" by Paul Scham and Osama abu-Irshaid, this discussion will explore how the international community can detect and take advantage of any willingness by Hamas to compromise, without making ourselves vulnerable to manipulation. How should we interpret this movement, what is the role of Shari'a law in Hama's political behavior and what are the policy implications of the report? Countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Syria, United States \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	July 14, 2009 Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War Countries: Colombia \| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Human Rights, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Population and Diaspora
	June 24, 2009 Recommitting to Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) The Office of the US Special Envoy to Sudan will convene a conference involving more than twenty countries and organizations, as well as the two signatories to Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), on June 23rd. The conference will focus on reaffirming international commitments to the CPA and charting the course ahead concerning the international community's support for CPA implementation. Following the conference, on June 24th USIP will host a panel discussion to share outcomes. The panel will feature the US Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, and representatives from the NCP and SPLM delegations. Countries: Sudan \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, International and Regional Organizations, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Political Systems and International Relations, Post-Conflict Activities
	June 12, 2009 Piracy and the Crisis in Somalia: Somali Perspectives Countries: Africa, Somalia \| Issue Areas: Economics and Development, Security and Strategy, Weapons & Arms Control

	December 9, 2009 International Engagement with Somalia Serious and contentious questions surround the issue of how the international community should relate to Somalia. Should major support be given to the Transitional Federal Government? Should the African Union peacekeeping force be expanded? Countries: Africa, Somalia \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Humanitarian Efforts, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Security and Strategy, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	November 23, 2009 Displacement in Colombia With more than four million internally displaced Colombians- an average of more than a quarter of a million people annually in recent years- and almost half a million more forced to flee across national borders in search of safety, Colombia now ranks just behind Sudan in the numbers of people displaced by the conflict. Women, youth, Afro-Colombians, and indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected by the conflict and by the displacement it causes. Countries: Colombia \| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Human Rights, Population and Diaspora, Transitional Justice, Women
	November 12, 2009 Creating Structures for Peace and Justice: Experiences from Colombia and Beyond Representatives of the Partners for Democratic Change's new Center in Colombia, the United States Institute of Peace, and the Due Process of Law Foundation will host a roundtable discussion about these mechanisms for democratizing justice at the community level. Discussion with invited experts will explore other experiences of community dispute resolution, as well as the challenges community justice mechanisms face and how they have been addressed. Countries: Colombia, Peru \| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Peacebuilding, Post-Conflict Activities, Rule of Law
	October 20, 2009 Sudan’s 2011 Referendum and Beyond The upcoming 2010 elections and 2011 referendum in Sudan are the culminating events of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement. However, looking at 2011 and beyond, there is increasing concern that Sudan may revert to violence rather than move forward towards the sustainable peace envisioned by the CPA. Countries: Sudan \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Early Warning & Conflict Prevention, Environment and Natural Resources, Governance, Post-Conflict Activities
	October 2, 2009 Views on CPA Implementation from the Government of Southern Sudan Born out of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has established itself as a functioning entity but also faces significant difficulties. On October 2, USIP hosts two GoSS ministers for a discussion about Southern Sudan's progress, internal and external challenges, and the road ahead as Sudan approaches the 2010 national elections and 2011 referendum. Countries: Sudan \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Economics and Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Governance, Post-Conflict Activities
	August 28, 2009 Supporting Sustainable Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Jehan Perera is executive director of the National Peace Council, an independent peace organization based in Colombo, and a regular analyst of Sri Lankan conflict and peace dynamics in online and print media. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu is executive director of the Center for Policy Alternatives, a think tank based in Colombo and dedicated to strengthening public input into governance and policy through research and analysis. Our two guests will speak about the current political and social context in Sri Lanka and the pathways to a sustainable peace and reconciliation. Countries: Asia, Sri Lanka \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Peacebuilding
	July 15, 2009 Engaging Hamas: Risks and Opportunities Based on a recent USIP report "Hamas: Ideological Rigidity, Political Flexibility" by Paul Scham and Osama abu-Irshaid, this discussion will explore how the international community can detect and take advantage of any willingness by Hamas to compromise, without making ourselves vulnerable to manipulation. How should we interpret this movement, what is the role of Shari'a law in Hama's political behavior and what are the policy implications of the report? Countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Syria, United States \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	July 14, 2009 Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War Countries: Colombia \| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Human Rights, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Population and Diaspora
	June 24, 2009 Recommitting to Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) The Office of the US Special Envoy to Sudan will convene a conference involving more than twenty countries and organizations, as well as the two signatories to Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), on June 23rd. The conference will focus on reaffirming international commitments to the CPA and charting the course ahead concerning the international community's support for CPA implementation. Following the conference, on June 24th USIP will host a panel discussion to share outcomes. The panel will feature the US Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, and representatives from the NCP and SPLM delegations. Countries: Sudan \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, International and Regional Organizations, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Political Systems and International Relations, Post-Conflict Activities
	June 12, 2009 Piracy and the Crisis in Somalia: Somali Perspectives Countries: Africa, Somalia \| Issue Areas: Economics and Development, Security and Strategy, Weapons & Arms Control

Events

Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution