On July 14, USIP and the U.N. Institute for Training and Research held a conversation on what peacekeeping trainers need to focus on to improve mission performance and outcomes as peacekeeping missions increase in complexity.

Andrew Cheatham, moderator 
Senior Advisor, Global Policy, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Ouiem Chettaoui 
Senior Program Officer, Conflict Management Training for Peacekeepers, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Claudia Croci 
Chief of Pre-deployment Training, U.N. Institute for Training and Research 

Yaro Hamidou 
Trainer, Conflict Management Program for Peacekeepers, U.S. Institute of Peace 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/evolution-peacekeeper-training

On July 12, USIP, the International Rescue Committee, CARE, and the Norwegian Refugee Council hosted a discussion with distinguished experts and activists to assess the current economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the Afghan people.

William Byrd, moderator
Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace

Melissa Cornet
Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor, CARE

Khalid Payenda
Director and co-founder, Institute for Development and Economic Studies (IDEA)

Samira Sayed-Rahman
Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications, International Rescue Committee

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/afghanistans-dire-humanitarian-situation

On July 11, USIP, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and one of the report’s co-publishers — the International Organization for Migration — held a discussion on the report’s key findings and recommendations.

Joseph Sany, welcoming remarks
Vice President, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

Amy Pope, opening remarks
Director General-Elect, International Organization for Migration

Eskinder Negash
President, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Tsion Tadesse Abebe
Chief Editor, The State of Migration in East and Horn of Africa

Mohammed Abdiker
Regional Director, Regional Office East and Horn of Africa, International Organization for Migration

Yemisrach Benalfew
Coordinator, Intergovernmental Authority for Development

Elizabeth Campbell
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State

Andrew Cheatham, moderator
Senior Advisor, Global Policy, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/state-migration-east-and-horn-africa

On July 11, USIP hosted a conversation with representatives of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea on the global impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the strategic challenges posed by a more assertive China, and where NATO-partner relations fit in.

Ambassador Kevin Rudd
Embassy of Australia to the United States

Tamaki Tsukada
Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Japan to the United States

Ambassador Bede Corry
Embassy of New Zealand to the United States

Choon-goo Kim
Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the United States

Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, moderator 
Senior Military Advisory Group, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/growing-importance-natos-indo-pacific-partners

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.

Ashleigh Landau
Research Associate, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide

Yamingué Bétinbaye
Scientific Director, Centre for Research in Anthropology and Human Sciences 

Rhosyns Ngatondang-Zalang
President, Association Jeunesse en Marche pour le Développement en Centrafrique 

Elizabeth Murray
Senior Advisor, Disability and Inclusion, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/hate-speech-and-atrocity-risks-central-africa

On June 29, USIP hosted a conversation about China’s role in Africa’s growing mining sector, how it connects with peace and security on the continent, and what it all means for the United States.

Briana Boland
Research Associate for the Freeman Chair in China Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Eric Olander
Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder, China-Global South Project

Lauren Herzer Risi
Program Director, Environmental Change and Security Program, Wilson Center

Tom Sheehy, moderator
Distinguished Fellow, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/chinas-critical-mineral-supply-chains-africa

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 on June 23 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.

Keith Mines
Director, Latin America Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

Luis Almagro
Secretary General of the OAS

Enrique Roig
Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the U.S. Department of State
Video: President Carter on Human Rights, 1978

Margaret Myers, moderator
Director, Asia & Latin America Program, IAD

Roberta Clarke
2nd Vice-President and Country Rapporteur for the U.S., IACHR

Tom J. Farer
Professor of International Relations at the Josef Korbel School, University of Denver; Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (1976-76); Member and President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (1976-83)

Juan Méndez
Professor of Human Rights Law at American University’s Washington College of Law; Member and President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2000-03); Executive Director of the Inter-American Human Rights Institute (1996-99)

Mark L. Schneider
Senior Adviser, Americas Program and the Human Rights Initiative, CSIS; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian affairs (1977-79); Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, 1999-2001

Juan Gabriel Valdés
Ambassador of Chile to the United States

Video: Our neighbors to the South, The Carter Center

Margaret Myers, moderator
Director, Asia & Latin America Program, IAD

Samuel Lewis
Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama (2004-2009)

Jennie K. Lincoln
Senior Advisor for Latin America and Caribbean, The Carter Center

Maricarmen Plata
Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity, OAS

Jennie K. Lincoln
Senior Advisor for Latin America and Caribbean, The Carter Center

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/commemorating-jimmy-carters-legacy-americas

On June 21, USIP hosted a panel discussion with members of U.S. INDOPACOM, who discussed why gender-inclusive policies are critical to security in the region. Opening remarks were followed by a panel discussion on progress toward expanding gender-inclusion in security strategy and operations across the region.

Continue the conversation on Twitter using #WPSIndoPac.

Air Commodore Chris Robson
WPS General Officer, United States Indo-Pacific Command

Brigadier General Maura M. Hennigan
President, Marine Corps University

Sharon Gouveia Feist
Gender Advisor, United States Indo-Pacific Command

Dr. Jennifer Staats
Director of East Asia and Pacific Programs, USIP

Dr. Kathleen Kuehnast, moderator
Director, Women, Peace and Security, USIP

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/why-women-matter-peace-and-security-indo-pacific

On June 20, USIP, the Environmental Law Institute and the Stockholm International Water Institute hosted a conversation on women’s leadership in water diplomacy. In honor of the second International Day of Women in Diplomacy, women water diplomats from around the world discussed water conflict sensitivities, shared lessons learned and enumerated paths forward for peace.

Kayly Ober, welcoming remarks
Senior Program Officer, Climate, Environment and Conflict, U.S. Institute of Peace

Henk W.J. Ovink, keynote address
Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands 

Elizabeth A. Koch, moderator
Senior Manager for International Programs, Environmental Law Institute; Process Support Lead, Women in Water Diplomacy Network 

Foman Forough
Former Director General of the Kabul River Basin, Afghanistan 

Zodwa Dlamini
Former Chief Delegate and Permanent Representative for South Africa, Lesotho Highlands Water Commission

Tanya Trujillo
Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of Interior 

Swathi Veeravalli
Director of Climate Security and Adaptation, National Security Council 

Aubrey Paris
Senior Advisor, Gender, Climate Change and Innovation, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, Department of State

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/elevating-womens-leadership-effective-transboundary-water-cooperation

On June 14, USIP and the American University of Kurdistan hosted a discussion with the Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Interior Rebar Ahmed on a wide range of issues pertaining to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, including Erbil-Baghdad relations; economic reforms and the need to diversify beyond oil; the response to climate change and preventing related instability; the inclusion of women, youth, and ethnic and religious minorities; the fight against ISIS and its human legacies in al-Hol Camp and beyond; and the impact of de-escalations and the rise of China’s role in the Middle East.

His Excellency Rebar Ahmed 
Minister of Interior, Kurdistan Regional Government

Mona Yacoubian, welcoming remarks 
Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace

Sarhang Hamasaeed, moderator 
Director, Middle East Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/conversation-kurdistan-regional-governments-minister-interior-rebar-ahmed