Women in Pakistan are murdered routinely, and usually with impunity, for allegedly staining the “honor” of their families—often by marrying over the objection of their relatives, and even for glancing at a man in the street. Nearly 1,000 such “honor killings” are reported publicly each year, but uncounted others add to a largely hidden tide of brutality. Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy threw a spotlight on this violent seam of life in her country—and won an Academy Award—with her documentary, “A Girl in the River.” She screened and discussed her film on May 16.

Violent Extremism; Gender

On May 10, the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum held a discussion at the U.S. Institute of Peace on women, social media and extremism.

Violent Extremism; Gender; Nonviolent Action

The longstanding United Nations call for countries to adopt National Action Plans to involve women in issues of national security repeatedly stumbles in much of the Middle East and North Africa. The U.S. Institute of Peace had a discussion on May 4 on how these roadblocks can be overcome, especially amid the current upheaval.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention; Violent Extremism; Gender

A staggering 230 million children live in lands that have become battlefields, and extremist groups exploit their traumas to recruit youth to violence. Yet from these same embattled lands, young leaders emerge, working to heal divisions in their communities and build peace. They often face large social or political forces of violent conflict, and even threats of suppression or violence by combatants. As they do, how can others help them sustain the personal resilience on which their work depends? On May 4, USIP hosted a global discussion online.

Violent Extremism; Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue; Religion; Youth

The president of Somalia, His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, gave a public address on April 20 at USIP on political and security developments in his country. As Somalia works toward planned national elections this year, President Mohamud highlighted current efforts by his government and discussed strategies by which the Somali people, government and international community can move the country forward.

Violent Extremism

The Woodrow Wilson Center, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States hosted a discussion with Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) at the Woodrow Wilson Center, on April 14, 2016.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention; Violent Extremism; Economics & Environment

How does the U.S. government now define its partnership with Nigeria, and what may arise next in that relationship? The two governments have long maintained a broad “strategic dialogue” on issues from energy to food security to transparency in governance. On March 28, two days before the main annual meeting in that dialogue, Assistant Secretary of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke on the evolution of the U.S.-Nigerian partnership.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention; Violent Extremism; Economics & Environment; Gender; Justice, Security & Rule of Law

The U.S. Institute of Peace brought together U.S. government officials and experts on March 3 for a discussion on Mali’s transition, U.S. policies, and the specific role in Mali of USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives.

Violent Extremism; Democracy & Governance