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.
On October 18, USIP hosted a conversation with playwright Akbar Ahmed, director Manjula Kumar and several of the play’s performers. The discussion looked at the role of arts and theater as a peacebuilding tool, spotlighted the genesis of the storyline and examined the role of historical frameworks in understanding contemporary issues on human rights, democracy and identity in South Asia.
On July 28, USIP held a discussion delving into the work of the Sudan Conflict Observatory, Youth Citizens Observers Network and other monitoring organizations to examine the progression of the war, efforts to address atrocities, and ways to prevent the conflict from spreading further.
On July 6, USIP and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide hosted a conversation on the manifestations and drivers of hate speech, as well as ways to determine when it might lead or contribute to violence, including mass atrocities. Using case studies from Chad and CAR, the discussion explored best practices for locally led atrocity prevention and peacebuilding efforts.
Coinciding with the Organization of American States’ (OAS) General Assembly, USIP, the Carter Center, the Inter-American Dialogue, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS hosted a discussion of the Carter administration’s legacy defending human rights throughout the Americas and what it can teach today’s policymakers and human rights defenders.
On June 7, USIP and New York University's Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia co-hosted a discussion on the impact of the war in Ukraine on Russian civil society both at home and in exile abroad. The conversation also touched on the potential long-term implications of the war for Russian civil society and government, including in regards to relations with Europe.
On June 1, USIP hosted a conversation with experts who have been at the forefront of regional efforts to reform Latin American security forces. This discussion analyzed legal frameworks for police use of force, discussed best practices and proposed practical polices to reduce violence and ensure accountability.
On March 8, USIP hosted a conversation with David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), about his work to shed light on growing global trends toward impunity in conflict and the need to reassert protections for civilians and humanitarian aid in conflict, break the cycle of crisis, and strengthen systems of accountability in the international system.
On February 3, USIP hosted a conversation with conflict mediator, acclaimed poet and host of the popular podcast “Poetry Unbound" Pádraig Ó Tuama and bestselling author and Washington Post columnist Amanda Ripley. The discussion reflected on how poetry and language can capture the destruction of conflict, as well as how the arts can help build peace.
On November 16, USIP hosted a conversation with U.N. Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu on the efforts her office has taken to prevent atrocity crimes and to improve the U.N.’s ability to protect vulnerable civilian populations.
On November 8, USIP hosted Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the U.N. independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, and other experts for a discussion of the gendered dimensions of armed conflict, their root causes and consequences, and how to increase protection of gender-diverse persons and groups from discrimination and violence.