Latest In the Field

Enhancing Traditional Local Conflict Resolution Techniques in Afghanistan

kboston — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:52:00 -0600

Promoting non-violent resolution of conflict at all local levels will be essential to bringing, and sustaining, peace and stability to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan's recent history, the most effective agents in advancing peace and security at the local level have been indigenous structures such as shura and jirga councils, as well as Maliks.

Developing Peace and Human Rights Educators in Iraq

kboston — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:58:00 -0500

USIP's Maria Jessop-Mandel writes about the Institute's recent human rights workshop, "Putting Human Rights Values into Action," for Iraqi professors held in Beirut, Lebanon. The program explored three human rights-related themes specific to the Iraqi context -- children’s rights, women's equality and academic freedom -- and ways these professors could more effectively teach human rights in their classrooms, and ultimately learn from each other's experiences.

Promoting Peace in Pakistan

kboston — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:12:00 -0500

The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan are two of the most troubled provinces of Pakistan. The porous border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan suffer from serious violent conflict due to the Taliban’s heavy presence in these areas.

Notes from Sudan

kboston — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:00:00 -0500

Ahead of the country's critical 2011 referendum on whether the South should secede from Sudan, USIP is dedicated to help resolve internal conflicts and help ensure the country's future stability and security. In "Notes from Sudan," USIP's Jon Temin writes about his recent tour of the country to get an update on the status of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended decades of civil war in Sudan and learn about preparations for the 2011 referendum and the 2010 national elections.

Dispatch from Port-au-Prince, Haiti

kboston — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:31:00 -0500

The process of drafting and passing new “people friendly” criminal laws is a difficult one but it is certainly not impossible. USIP's Vivienne O'Connor visited Haiti recently to help work with the national actors engaged in the reform process by sharing with lawmakers a law reform tool –- the “Model Codes for Post-Conflict Criminal Justice” book -- that we developed in cooperation with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime.

Guatemala

kboston — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:56:00 -0500

A scandal involving murder allegations against the president and escalating violence from drug trafficking threaten Guatemala’s stability. Former USIP grantee Anita Isaacs recently traveled to the Central American country, where she witnessed massive demonstrations that exposed the fragility of Guatemala’s democracy.

Negotiation Techniques In Multilateral Diplomacy

csfetsios — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:38:00 -0500

Ted Feifer and Mike Lekson of the Education and Training Center/ International conducted the Institute's seventh workshop on negotiation skills in multilateral diplomacy for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, June 8-10, 2009.

CoESPU Workshops on Negotiation and Mediation for Police in Peacekeeping Environments

csfetsios — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:03:00 -0500

Senior Program Officers Nina Sughrue and Noor Kirdar continued USIP’s support for the international Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), run by the Italian Caribinieri in Vicenza, Italy. CoESPU, which was established on March 1st 2005, stems from an Italian initiative, supported by the G8 countries to provide technical and financial assistance in order to improve global capacity for sustaining peace stability operations, particularly in African countries.

A New Day for Sri Lanka

kboston — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:27:00 -0500

USIP peace scholar Benjamin Schonthal provides a first person account of the excitement at the end of Sri Lanka's 30-year civil war. And, he also reminds us that the hard work of peace is just beginning.

Dispatch from Nepal

mmiller — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:56:00 -0500

USIP’s Rule of Law program is preparing to conduct a baseline survey on security and access to justice in Nepal. Acting Director of Rule of Law Colette Rausch and Program Assistant Morgan Miller visited Nepal in May to discuss final preparations with the Kathmandu-based team leading the survey effort.