In the two years since Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, relations with Washington and major European powers have deteriorated sharply. And today, thanks to the unsettled situation in eastern Ukraine and recent Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war, the damage is unlikely to be repaired any time soon. What political, military, and diplomatic calculations underlay Putin’s decisions to intervene in Ukraine and Syria? Do Donetsk and Damascus mark the frontline of a new Cold War?

Northwestern University's Brian Edwards examines localization of US pop culture in the Middle East, and what it means for American soft power.

Political strategists and Institute of Politics fellows Stuart Stevens and Joe Trippi discuss why reaching and engaging millennials is a key issue on the 2016 campaign trail with Council senior fellow Dina Smeltz and Council YP members.

Starting from a very young age, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. From intimate partner violence to tactics of war, gender-based violence takes on various forms and transcends social and cultural groups. What support do young, at-risk girls need to lead full and productive lives? What new service-delivery systems have emerged to prevent and treat sexual and reproductive health and mental health problems?

You might not know it, but Chicago has become a world-leader in outside-the-box thinking when it comes to youth and global health. Cloud-based systems, big data from rural areas, and using game-based methods to educate girls on sexual and reproductive health are proving to be new and effective methods in improving girls’ lives – even in the most remote regions in the world.

From the Boko Haram kidnapping of over 200 girls in Nigeria, to the Syrian refugee crisis that has affected more than 7.5 million children, crisis and disaster zones occur in many forms, including through terrorist attacks, war, and natural disasters. The health of women and children is most at risk in times of crisis, as they are more likely to be denied education, and subject to exploitation, trafficking, and abuse. How do we support the health of women and girls during a crisis – and in the years and decades that follow?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an opportunity to think about health and well-being in new ways. Securing comprehensive health, including mental health, for girls and women around the world will require innovative, data-driven approaches, and long-term commitments from a variety of actors. Where are we falling short, and what roadblocks still exist? What would a cross-sectoral agenda look like that would increase our collective impact?

Wearables, language development, and new methods of education in marginalized communities are changing the way we think about the connections between learning and health. The stakes remain high, as more and more children globally receive limited access to basic education and nutrition. Successful initiatives such as Thirty Million Words, UNICEF’s Kid Power wrist band, and innovative girls’ education models work to stimulate health and education in new and inventive ways. How are these programs reaching kids in need, and how should the global community engage where resources are limited or non-existent?

With the right support, young girls can contribute to their communities just as much as their male classmates. Sports are one way to keep girls healthy and safe, but how do we maximize these after school programs? And what in-school interventions are finding the most success? From the soccer pitches of Iran, to schools throughout the US, this panel will explore ways of empowering young girls to become healthy and confident leaders.

Education is inextricably linked to health – a sentiment true locally and internationally. Two organizations in particular have developed replicable models that can empower kids globally. This panel will feature case studies from Options for Youth, a Chicago organization working on issues such as second pregnancy prevention, and Caring for Cambodia, who build schools to provide education, healthy meals, and improved healthcare. How can school-based programs and individual support clinics like these be used more readily to support kids around the world?