Afghanistan’s economy and people have suffered an overwhelming shock since the Taliban takeover last August. On April 13, USIP held a discussion on the economic situation in Afghanistan since the U.S withdrawal, the travails of the Afghan private sector and prospects for the future.

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

Tobias Haque
Lead Economist for Afghanistan, the World Bank

Naheed Sarabi 
Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Republic of Afghanistan

Andrea Mario Dall'Olio
Lead Country Economist for Afghanistan, the World Bank 

Jeffrey Grieco
President & CEO, Afghan American Chamber of Commerce 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/state-afghanistans-economy-and-private-sector

In the weeks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, policymakers and thought leaders have reflected on its implications for the global order, especially for the Indo-Pacific. On April 5, USIP hosted Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) — the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation — for a conversation on how the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacts the Indo-Pacific, as well as how the United States and its allies and partners can further support the Ukrainian people and deter a similar conflict in Asia.

Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA)
U.S. Representative from California
@RepBera

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)
U.S. Representative from Ohio 
@RepSteveChabot

Lise Grande, moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/what-russias-invasion-ukraine-means-indo-pacific

This year marks the 50th anniversary of relations between the United States and Bangladesh. Over the past five decades, Bangladesh and the United States have developed a complex relationship that spans economic and security ties as well as transnational issues like climate change. On April 5, USIP hosted a conversation with Bangladesh’s foreign minister, His Excellency Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, on the lessons learned from the last 50 years and the path ahead for U.S.-Bangladesh relations.

Lise Grande, opening remarks 
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

His Excellency A.K. Abdul Momen
Foreign Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Ambassador Teresita Schaffer, moderator
Senior Advisor, McLarty Associates

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/conversation-bangladeshi-foreign-minister-he-ak-abdul-momen

The U.S. Secretary of State's 2022 International Women of Courage (IWOC) award honors women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. On March 31, USIP hosted awardees Josefina Klinger Zúñiga and Rizwana Hasan for a discussion on the strategies they use to take on the systems and actors who degrade and destroy the environment and how their people-centered approach helps protect the rights of individuals, communities and the environment.

Kamissa Camara, moderator
Senior Visiting Expert on the Sahel, U.S. Institute of Peace

Josefina Klinger Zúñiga
Founder and Director, Mano Cambiada; 2022 International Women of Courage Awardee

Rizwana Hasan
Attorney and Environmentalist; 2022 International Women of Courage Awardee

Tegan Blaine, closing summary
Director, Climate, Environment and Conflict, U.S. Institute of Peace

Katrina Fotovat, closing remarks
Senior Official, Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. State Department

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/women-climate-change-and-peacebuilding

While the growth of the internet initially empowered activists, recent years have seen the rise of a new brand of digital authoritarianism in which repressive governments use new technology to surveil and censor opposition and flood their publics with misinformation. On March 29, USIP hosted thought leaders and grassroots activists for a discussion on how they have responded to rising digital authoritarian tactics, as well as a presentation of new research from USIP experts on how social movements are using new technologies and organizing strategies to adapt and advocate for a more just, democratic and peaceful world.

Glacier Kwong 
Project Manager, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong

Steven Feldstein 
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Gbenga Sesan 
Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative

Lisa Poggialli
Democracy, Data and Technology Specialist, USAID

Matthew Cebul, moderator
Research Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/activist-adaptation-emergent-technology

Since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have introduced new policies and regulations based on their own interpretation of Islam and Sharia — many of which have placed restrictions on women’s rights. On March 28, USIP hosted a conversation examining the differences between Taliban views and practices and those of other Muslim-majority nations.

Kathleen Kuehnast, welcoming remarks
Director, Gender Policy and Strategy, U.S. Institute of Peace

Sheikh Ahmed al Tayeb
Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Al Azhar

Rina Amiri
U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights

Her Excellency, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani
Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations

Fatima Gailani
Afghan Political Leader and Islamic Scholar 

Retno Marsudi
Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Republic of Indonesia

Ambassador Deborah Lyons
U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Head of UNAMA

Palwasha Kakar, moderator
Acting Director, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/islam-peace-and-womens-rights-afghanistan

As Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues, mounting evidence suggests that atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are ongoing. On March 22, USIP hosted a discussion on seeking justice for Russian atrocities in Ukraine, the needs of Ukrainian civilians, available accountability mechanisms and the role of multilateral institutions in operationalizing an effective accountability strategy.

Lise Grande, welcoming remarks/moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Ambassador Oksana Markarova, opening remarks
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States
 
Jane E. Stromseth
Francis Cabell Brown Professor of International Law, Georgetown Law

Curtis R. Ried
Senior Director of Multilateral Affairs, National Security Council

Ambassador William Taylor
Vice President, Russia and Europe, U.S. Institute of Peace; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/responding-russian-atrocities-ukraine

USIP is hosting a series of Twitter Spaces between USIP experts and peacebuilding practitioners working in Afghanistan, Colombia, Myanmar, the Sahel and Ukraine to underscore the importance of protecting and facilitating women’s meaningful inclusion in peacebuilding. On March 7, our panel focused on Colombia.

Speakers:

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/twitter-space-series-protecting-womens-participation-peacebuilding

USIP is hosting a series of Twitter Spaces between USIP experts and peacebuilding practitioners working in Afghanistan, Colombia, Myanmar, the Sahel and Ukraine to underscore the importance of protecting and facilitating women’s meaningful inclusion in peacebuilding. On March 4, our panel focused on Afghanistan.

Speakers: 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/twitter-space-series-protecting-womens-participation-peacebuilding

USIP is hosting a series of Twitter Spaces between USIP experts and peacebuilding practitioners working in Afghanistan, Colombia, Myanmar, the Sahel and Ukraine to underscore the importance of protecting and facilitating women’s meaningful inclusion in peacebuilding. On March 3, our panel focused on the Sahel.

Speakers:

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/twitter-space-series-protecting-womens-participation-peacebuilding