On February 3, President Santos discussed Colombia's progress in security and governance over the last 15 years. He also reviewed the state of the negotiations with the FARC, the prospects for a country at peace, and the challenges that lie ahead.

Peace Processes;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

Three months after warring factions in South Sudan signed onto a peace plan, the fighting continues and the formation of a transitional government is behind schedule. USIP experts joined officials from the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy on Sudan and South Sudan on December 15, 2015 to chat online about how the delayed peace process can be advanced.

Peace Processes

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, His Excellency Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, reflected on developments in his country and the broader region and assessed the future of relations with the United States in an address, during his official visit to Washington, D.C. His address took place at the U.S. Institute of Peace on Friday, October 23 at 10:00am.

Environment;  Justice, Security & Rule of Law;  Peace Processes;  Economics

Colombia’s government and the FARC movement achieved their September 23 breakthrough in peace negotiations by setting down basic principles on the rights of victims to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-repetition. USIP’s Colombia Peace Forum, on September 30, analyzed the role of historical memory in these transitional justice issues.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Gender;  Peace Processes;  Reconciliation

In early July, a group of 26 religious leaders of different faiths called on the negotiators to accelerate peace talks and offered to help lead the country toward reconciliation. On July 15, the U.S. Institute of Peace held a discussion with a group pursuing such work, the Ecumenical Group of Women Peacekeepers (GemPaz).

Gender;  Religion;  Reconciliation;  Peace Processes

With Colombian public support waning for the peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the peace process can be strengthened by finding ways to engage a broader set of civil society stakeholders.  One important group excluded so far, the Afro-Colombian population, is working to have its needs and proposals heard at the peace table.  How can Afro-Colombians and other excluded groups enhance their participation in the process, and what are the risks if they cannot? The U.S. Institute of Peace held an event on May 26 that answered these questions in the Colombia Peace Forum series.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Peace Processes;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

Amid Colombia’s half-century of armed conflict, with peace talks progressing, the government’s High Commissioner of Peace, Sergio Jaramillo, has called for building “paz territorial,” or “peace from the ground up.” This idea is meant to engage regional institutions, local authorities and diverse social sectors and communities in translating an eventual peace accord into practice. But much is still to be defined. Who will lead and organize the process? How is it to be supported logistically? On March 27, 2015, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a session of the Colombia Peace Forum to explore these and other questions with a panel of experts. 

Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue;  Gender;  Peace Processes

President Obama has raised the possibility of another push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement before he leaves office. With stability on the ground already severely at stake, it is imperative that any renewed attempt take account of lessons learned from last year's round of failed talks. On March 23, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Center for a New American Security held a discussion with Ilan Goldenberg, the chief of staff to the U.S. special envoy during those talks and author of the new report Lessons from the 2013-2014 Israeli-Palestinian Final Status Negotiations.

Peace Processes;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue