United States Institute of Peace Offers Experts on Haiti
(Washington) – As the relief efforts continue in the aftermath of last week's earthquake, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) offers experts for insight into the situation, including rule of law, U.N. peacekeeping issues, and disaster management projects.
For Immediate Release, January 22, 2010
Contact: Allison Sturma, 202/429-4725
(Washington) – As the relief efforts continue in the aftermath of last week's earthquake, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) offers experts for insight into the situation, including rule of law, U.N. peacekeeping issues, and disaster management projects.
Overall Coverage
USIP offers two experts with extensive expiterience in Haiti who are available for comment on the overall impact of the earthquake on Haiti's situation:
Robert Maguire, chairman of USIP's Haiti Working Group, former senior fellow, and associate professor at Trinity Washington University
Maguire has been working on Haiti since the mid-1970s in a combination of academic, nonprofit and government roles.
Office: 202/884-9585
E-mail: remaguire@verizon.net
Bob Perito, senior program officer with the Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations
Perito directs USIP's Haiti programs and is the director of the Security Sector Reform Working Group
Office: 202/429-4173
E-mail: rperito@usip.org
Rule of Law
Vivienne O'Connor, senior rule of law adviser with the Rule of Law Center of Innovation
O'Conner works to facilitate criminal law reform in Haiti through training and technical assistance.
Office: 202/429-3898
E-mail: voconnor@usip.org
Colette Rausch, acting director of the Rule of Law Center of Innovation
Rausch oversees USIP's legal reform rule of law work in Haiti.
Office: 202/429-3860
E-mail: crausch@usip.org
U.N. Peacekeeping Operations – impact on the United Nation Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):
Abi Williams, vice president for the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention
In addition to serving as the director of strategic planning in the Office of the United Nations Secretary General, Williams worked with the U.N. in Haiti for two years.
Office: 202/429-4772
E-mail: awilliams@usip.org
Disaster Relief
Mary Hope Schwoebel, senior program officer with the Education and Training Center/International
In addition to providing conflict resolution training to non-governmental organizations in Haiti, Schwoebel has experience providing training for disaster management personnel.
Office: 202/429-3837
E-mail: mschwoebel@usip.org
Selected Resources
- Haiti Country Page – This website provides an overview of USIP work on Haiti.
- Model Codes for Post-Conflict Criminal Justice in Haiti – This website details USIP's work to strength the rule of law in Haiti
- Prospects for Haiti's New Government – Published just prior to the earthquake, this Peace Brief details the situation facing the new Haitian government
- What Role for the U.N. in Haiti? – A USIP Peace Briefing, this November 2009 publication describes the MINUSTAH