Afghanistan’s First Lady Rula Ghani on Advancing Reforms
On May 13, Afghanistan’s First Lady Rula Ghani discussed her country’s history of violent conflict and recent progress and challenges in reforming the justice sector, including for women.
Events
As a national, nonpartisan, independent Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace draws on our exceptional convening power to create opportunities for diverse audiences to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas necessary for creative solutions to difficult challenges. We serve as an important, neutral platform for bringing together government and nongovernment, diplomacy, security, and development actors, and participants across political views. The Institute’s events help shape public policy and priorities to advance peaceful solutions to conflict and strengthen international security.
'Journey into Europe': Conflict, Migration and Religion
Wars and oppression—from Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan and parts of Africa—last year pushed more than a million people to seek safety and opportunity in Europe. This tide of migrating humanity has heightened Europe’s tensions around its growing Muslim community. Conflict is growing around terrorism, the status of sharia law, the construction of mosques, and the possibility and desirability of multicultural societies. On March 23, American University anthropologist Akbar Ahmed screened his 201...
Laura Bush on Afghan Women's Leadership for Peace
Mrs. Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States, has long been an advocate for expanding the rights and opportunities of women in Afghanistan. On March 15, USIP hosted a discussion about the importance of the United States’ continued support of Afghan women and girls. In an event celebrating International Women’s Month, Mrs. Bush was joined by Mina Sherzoy, an Afghan woman featured in the George W. Bush Institute’s new book, “We Are Afghan Women: Voices of Hope.” Stephen Hadley, USIP’s Board Chairman and a former National Security Advisor, moderated the conversation.
Implications for Afghanistan: The Taliban Seizure of Kunduz
The Taliban’s two-week seizure of Kunduz in September revealed weaknesses in Afghanistan’s security forces and unforeseen Taliban capabilities. It has generated deep concerns about stability, security, the future of the peace process, and underappreciated humanitarian issues. On October 28, USIP convened experts to analyze Kunduz and its fallout, including President Obama’s decision to extend the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016.
Beyond Afghanistan's Dangerous Summer
Ambassador Dan Feldman, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, assessed regional security issues and efforts to open peace talks with the Taliban in a presentation on August 5 at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Comments also were provided by USIP Chairman of the Board of Directors, Stephen J. Hadley, and USIP’s Vice President for South and Central Asia, Dr. Andrew Wilder, and then the discussion was opened up to the audience.
Can Afghanistan Stabilize as U.S. Forces Plan Their Exit?
USIP experts convened on June 16 to discuss that question, offer updates from a just-concluded visit to Afghanistan, and explore how to help Afghans seize what may be missed opportunities to stabilize their country.
Personal Stories from the Frontlines of War and Peace
From Iraq to Burma, from Peru to Yemen, from Nicaragua to Nepal, the personal stories of widows, children, workers, and soldiers often are lost in the cacophony of war. The U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a discussion and launch of "Speaking Their Peace: Personal Stories from the Frontlines of War and Peace," a book that tells the extraordinary stories of "ordinary" people from eleven conflict zones. This event included a moderated discussion with the book's author, Colette Rausch, and two members of the team that captured these memorable interviews, followed by a reception and book-signing session.
States of Fragility: Post-2015 Ambitions
More than 1 billion people live in countries affected by armed conflict or by the fragility of their societies. Fragile states are often vulnerable to conflict because their populations tend to see their governments as ineffective, illegitimate, or both. As a group, they are the ones that lag furthest behind in achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. On Friday, March 27 USIP hosted a discussion regarding a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, “States of Fragility 2015: Meeting Post-2015 Ambitions.”
A Conversation with H.E. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
The Atlantic Council and the U.S. Institute of Peace welcomed the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, on the occasion of his first official visit to Washington, D.C. since being sworn in as president on September 21, 2014. The public address, with questions and answers from the invite-only audience and via Twitter, took place on March 25, 2015 at USIP headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Advancing U.S.-Afghan Ties: A discussion with Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas)
USIP and the Alliance in Support of the Afghan People were pleased to host Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), a U.S. Army veteran who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq and a newly elected member of the U.S. Senate, to provide his views on the shape of future U.S.-Afghan relations.