Resources & Tools

part of the Centers of Innovation

	Traditional Dispute Resolution and Stability in Afghanistan February 2010 \| Peace Brief by John Dempsey and Noah Coburn Stability in Afghanistan will remain elusive unless disputes between individuals and among communities can be resolved through peaceful and equitable means. However, state justice institutions are barely functioning in much of the country and are incapable of meeting many justice and dispute resolution needs of Afghans. Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Management and Resolution, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Rule of Law
	Delays Will Not Improve Afghan Elections February 2010 \| Peace Brief by Scott Worden The presidential and provincial council elections held in Afghanistan in August 2009 were marred by irregularities and fraud, leading voters and candidates to question the fairness and utility of the democratic process there. The Afghan government announced in late January that it will delay Parliamentary elections until September 2010--several months beyond the deadline set by Afghanistan’s constitution. Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Governance, Political Systems and International Relations, Rule of Law
	Looking for Justice: Liberian Experiences with and Perceptions of Local Justice Options November 2009 \| Peaceworks by Deborah H. Isser, Stephen C. Lubkemann, Saah N’Tow, with Adeo Addison, Johnny Ndebe, George Saye, Tim Luccaro This report presents the research findings and analysis of ten months of field study as part of the United States Institute of Peace and George Washington University project titled "From Current Practices of Justice to Rule of Law: Policy Options for Liberia's First Post-Conflict Decade." Countries: Africa, Liberia \| Issue Areas: Governance, Rule of Law, Transitional Justice
	The Afghan Elections: Who Lost What? October 2009 \| Congressional Testimony by J Alexander Thier On October 1, 2009, Alex Thier, director of USIP’s Afghanistan and Pakistan program, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia on the Afghan elections, the importance of strengthening Afghan institutions, and the threats to success for the U.S. mission in that country. Countries: Afghanistan, United States \| Issue Areas: Political Systems and International Relations
	Combating Serious Crimes in Postconflict Societies - Dari Edition September 2009 \| Book by Colette Rausch, editor This path-breaking volume presents broad guidelines and specific prescriptions for combating serious crime in societies emerging from conflict. Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Rule of Law
	Combating Serious Crimes in Postconflict Societies - Nepali Edition September 2009 \| Book by Colette Rausch, editor This path-breaking volume presents broad guidelines and specific prescriptions for combating serious crime in societies emerging from conflict. Countries: Nepal \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Rule of Law
	Building the Rule of Law in Haiti: New Laws for a New Era August 2009 \| Peace Brief by Hans Joerg Albrecht, Louis Aucoin and Vivienne O’Connor A new USIP report on Haiti's criminal laws examines the shortcomings of the impoverished country's criminal code – and finds promising opportunities to modernize and reform the laws. Despite Haiti's numerous challenges, the report concludes that new laws in Haiti will usher in a new era where the criminal justice system serves all people of Haiti, including the poor, vulnerable and marginalized, and upon which respect for the law and legitimacy of a stronger judicial system overall can be built. Countries: Haiti \| Issue Areas: Governance, Rule of Law
	Truth Commission: Kenya July 2009 Truth Commission: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Duration: 2 years anticipated Charter: Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission Bill Commissioners: 7 Report: The commission is still in session. Countries: Kenya \| Issue Areas: Rule of Law, Transitional Justice
	Truth Commission: Solomon Islands April 2009 Truth Commission: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Duration: April 29, 2009 – 2010 (expected; one year, not counting a three months preparatory period). Extensions by the Prime Minister are possible, but limited to one year. Charter: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2008 (No. 5 of 2008) Commissioners: 5 Report: Not yet issued Countries: Solomon Islands \| Issue Areas: Rule of Law, Transitional Justice
	Truth Commissions Digital Collection April 2009 This digital library includes documents from over 35 truth commissions and related commissions of inquiry.

	Traditional Dispute Resolution and Stability in Afghanistan February 2010 \| Peace Brief by John Dempsey and Noah Coburn Stability in Afghanistan will remain elusive unless disputes between individuals and among communities can be resolved through peaceful and equitable means. However, state justice institutions are barely functioning in much of the country and are incapable of meeting many justice and dispute resolution needs of Afghans. Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Management and Resolution, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Rule of Law
	Delays Will Not Improve Afghan Elections February 2010 \| Peace Brief by Scott Worden The presidential and provincial council elections held in Afghanistan in August 2009 were marred by irregularities and fraud, leading voters and candidates to question the fairness and utility of the democratic process there. The Afghan government announced in late January that it will delay Parliamentary elections until September 2010--several months beyond the deadline set by Afghanistan’s constitution. Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Governance, Political Systems and International Relations, Rule of Law
	Looking for Justice: Liberian Experiences with and Perceptions of Local Justice Options November 2009 \| Peaceworks by Deborah H. Isser, Stephen C. Lubkemann, Saah N’Tow, with Adeo Addison, Johnny Ndebe, George Saye, Tim Luccaro This report presents the research findings and analysis of ten months of field study as part of the United States Institute of Peace and George Washington University project titled "From Current Practices of Justice to Rule of Law: Policy Options for Liberia's First Post-Conflict Decade." Countries: Africa, Liberia \| Issue Areas: Governance, Rule of Law, Transitional Justice
	The Afghan Elections: Who Lost What? October 2009 \| Congressional Testimony by J Alexander Thier On October 1, 2009, Alex Thier, director of USIP’s Afghanistan and Pakistan program, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia on the Afghan elections, the importance of strengthening Afghan institutions, and the threats to success for the U.S. mission in that country. Countries: Afghanistan, United States \| Issue Areas: Political Systems and International Relations
	Combating Serious Crimes in Postconflict Societies - Dari Edition September 2009 \| Book by Colette Rausch, editor This path-breaking volume presents broad guidelines and specific prescriptions for combating serious crime in societies emerging from conflict. Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Rule of Law
	Combating Serious Crimes in Postconflict Societies - Nepali Edition September 2009 \| Book by Colette Rausch, editor This path-breaking volume presents broad guidelines and specific prescriptions for combating serious crime in societies emerging from conflict. Countries: Nepal \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Rule of Law
	Building the Rule of Law in Haiti: New Laws for a New Era August 2009 \| Peace Brief by Hans Joerg Albrecht, Louis Aucoin and Vivienne O’Connor A new USIP report on Haiti's criminal laws examines the shortcomings of the impoverished country's criminal code – and finds promising opportunities to modernize and reform the laws. Despite Haiti's numerous challenges, the report concludes that new laws in Haiti will usher in a new era where the criminal justice system serves all people of Haiti, including the poor, vulnerable and marginalized, and upon which respect for the law and legitimacy of a stronger judicial system overall can be built. Countries: Haiti \| Issue Areas: Governance, Rule of Law
	Truth Commission: Kenya July 2009 Truth Commission: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Duration: 2 years anticipated Charter: Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission Bill Commissioners: 7 Report: The commission is still in session. Countries: Kenya \| Issue Areas: Rule of Law, Transitional Justice
	Truth Commission: Solomon Islands April 2009 Truth Commission: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Duration: April 29, 2009 – 2010 (expected; one year, not counting a three months preparatory period). Extensions by the Prime Minister are possible, but limited to one year. Charter: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2008 (No. 5 of 2008) Commissioners: 5 Report: Not yet issued Countries: Solomon Islands \| Issue Areas: Rule of Law, Transitional Justice
	Truth Commissions Digital Collection April 2009 This digital library includes documents from over 35 truth commissions and related commissions of inquiry.