Last February, the Burmese army launched a coup and began reversing a decade of democratic and economic progress. In March 2021, USIP organized the Myanmar Study Group in response to the country’s evolving crisis. On the one-year anniversary of the military’s coup, on February 1, the Myanmar Study Group released its final report and USIP hosted a discussion on the study group’s findings and recommendations on topics such as the Burmese army, Myanmar’s economy, ethnic armed organizations, end state scenarios, humanitarian assistance, international actors and U.S. government policy alternatives. Panelists Lise Grande, opening remarks President & CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace Christina Fink Professor of Practice of International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University Daniel Twining President, International Republican Institute Derek Mitchell Former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Jason Tower, Country Director, Myanmar, U.S. Institute of Peace Priscilla Clapp Senior Advisor, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/myanmar-study-group-report-launch

In February 2020, the State Department published a public version of the U.S strategy for Central Asia, which placed particular emphasis on supporting Afghanistan and democracy in the region, in addition to economic goals. On January 27, USIP hosted a discussion on what a strategy for Central Asia could look like going forward given the significant change and uncertainty in the region. Speakers Lesslie Viguerie, introductory remarks Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central Asian and Pakistan Affairs, U.S. Department of State Gavin Helf, moderator Senior Expert, Central Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace Ambassador (Ret.) Richard Hoagland Chair, Security and Politics Program, Caspian Policy Center; Former U.S Ambassador to Kazakhstan Jennifer Murtazashvili Associate Professor and Director, Center for Governance and Markets, University of Pittsburgh S. Frederick Starr Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Navbahor Imamova Multimedia Journalist, Voice of America’s Uzbek Service Donald Jensen Director, Russia and Strategic Stability, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/does-us-strategy-central-asia-address-regions-current-problems

PeaceCon@10: COVID, Climate, and Conflict: Rising to the Challenges of a Disrupted World, explored how the peacebuilding field can address these pressing short and long-term challenges to achieve a more peaceful and secure world. On January 26, following a series of breakout sessions hosted by the Alliance for Peacebuilding, participants re-joined USIP for a fireside chat with closing keynote speaker Robert Jenkins of USAID. Speakers Robert JenkinsAssistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization, USAID Lise Grande, President & CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace Liz Hume, moderator Executive Director, Alliance for Peacebuilding For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/peacecon10

On January 26, USIP and the Alliance for Peacebuilding hosted a plenary panel discussion to address the relationship among climate change, conflict and fragility, and consider strategies for the international community to address the peace and security implications of these issues as well as the ongoing pandemic. Speakers Ambassador Frederic Gateretse-Ngoga, introductory remarks Head of Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Division, African Union Commission Polly ByersCEO, Karuna Center for Peacebuilding Gillian CaldwellAgency Climate Change Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID Patrick YoussefRegional Director, Africa, International Committee of the Red Cross Andrew Revkin, moderator Director, Initiative on Communication Innovation and Impact, The Earth Institute, Columbia University For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/peacecon10

The United States sprayed Agent Orange and related herbicides on 10,160 square miles of South Vietnam from 1961-1971, exposing millions of Vietnamese citizens and U.S. soldiers to dangerous dioxins and seriously affecting at least 150,000 Vietnamese children born after the war. On January 25, USIP hosted a discussion on its Vietnam War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative -- the first in a series of seminars designed to offer diverse perspectives on U.S.-Vietnam cooperation concerning war legacies. Speakers Andrew Wells-Dang, introductory remarks Senior Expert, Vietnam, U.S. Institute of Peace Charles Bailey Former Director, Agent Orange in Vietnam Program, Aspen Institute Susan Berresford Former President, Ford Foundation; Convenor of the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin Phan Xuân Dũng Research Officer, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/resolving-legacies-agent-orange

This January marks the 30th anniversary of El Salvador’s peace accords between the government and left-wing guerrillas, which ended a decade-long civil war that claimed at least 75,000 lives. On January 20, USIP and the Due Process of Law Foundation held a discussion that examined what the 1992 peace agreement achieved, where and why it fell short, and what both domestic and international actors can do to help El Salvador address ongoing struggles with violence, polarization and impunity. Speakers Keith Mines, moderator Director, Latin America Program, U.S. Institute of Peace Leonor Arteaga Program Director, Due Process of Law Foundation Douglass Cassel Former Legal Advisor, U.N. Commission on the Truth for El Salvador; Professor Emeritus, School of Law, University of Notre Dame Gino Costa Former Advisor, U.N. Observer Mission in El Salvador; Member of the Peruvian Congress Alvaro de Soto Former U.N. Representative for the Central American Peace Process; Professor, Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/30-years-later-el-salvadors-peace-accords

Chinese and African political leaders met last year in Senegal for the eighth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). On January 19, USIP hosted a discussion on the key takeaways from FOCAC 2021, China's long-term strategy in Africa's peace and security landscape, how China's bilateral relationships in Africa affect conflict dynamics — for example, in Ethiopia, where China has played an outsized economic role — and what it all means for U.S. foreign policy. Speakers Lise Grande, opening remarks President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace Abdul Hakeem Ajijola Chair, African Union Cyber Security Expert Group Garth le Pere Professor, University of Pretoria; Senior Associate, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection Heather Ashby, moderator Senior Program Officer, Strategic Security and Stability, U.S. Institute of Peace Joseph Sany, closing remarks Vice President, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/peace-and-security-issues-forum-china-africa-cooperation

Rivets Learning, with support from USIP, has recently published a book of seven essays, “Pakistan Here and Now: Insights into Society, Culture, Identity and Diaspora”, that attempts to decipher the interplay of external discourse and local narratives of diversity and inclusion to help reshape the discussion around combating violent extremism in Pakistan. On January 18, USIP as hosted the book’s editor and several contributors for a discussion on the context and development of extremist narratives in Pakistan, as well as how they can be countered by a focus on inclusion and tolerance. Speakers Harris Khalique Poet and Editor of “Pakistan Here and Now” Fatimah Ihsan Head of Gender Studies Department, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad; Contributor, “Pakistan Here and Now” Hasan Zaidi Editor for Magazines, DAWN Group; Contributor, “Pakistan Here and Now” Adnan Rafiq, moderator Country Director, Pakistan, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/defending-pluralism-encouraging-tolerance-and-building-democracy-pakistan

On January 12, USIP hosted a discussion with leading experts on the Taliban’s approach to governing Afghanistan so far — as well as how the United States and international community can assist the Afghan people despite the challenges the Taliban pose as the country’s sole authority. Speakers Scott Worden, moderator Director, Afghanistan & Central Asia, U.S Institute of Peace Rahmatullah Amiri Independent Researcher and Author Palwasha Kakar Interim Director, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace Asfandyar Mir, PhD Senior Expert, Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace Andrew Watkins Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/governance-talibans-achilles-heel

The #Faith4Rights Toolkit from the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) offers a way for religious actors, policymakers and practitioners to explore the links between human rights and peacebuilding, serving as a practical guide for engaging in human rights promotion in a variety of environments. On December 16, USIP and OHCHR hosted a conversation about religious actors’ support for human rights promotion, the #Faith4Rights Toolkit, and how the intersection of religion and human rights can help inform sustainable peace. Speakers Palwasha Kakar, opening remarks Acting Director, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace Ibrahim Salama, opening remarks Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR Mostafa Betaree Director of Spotlight Team International Art and former OHCHR Minority Fellow Mounir Elkadery Boudshish President of the Foundation Al-Moultaqa and director of the international Sufi forum Nosy Ramamonjisoa Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR Knox Thames, Senior Visiting Expert, U.S. Institute of Peace Melissa Nozell, moderator Program Officer, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute Peace Michael Wiener, moderator Rule of Law, Equality and Non-discrimination Branch, OHCHR Ibrahim Salama, closing remarks Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/faith-rights-approach-promoting-sustainable-peace

On December 15, USIP held a discussion with leading experts that explored the current efforts to develop national action plans on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) in Southeast Asia and identified key lessons for implementing the YPS agenda in the region. Speakers Theophilus Ekpon Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Development and Education in Africa Bill Flens Director of Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State Brian Harding Senior Expert, U.S. Institute of Peace Jenni Kilpi Junior Advisor, Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN Vanessa Vianco S. Pallarco Director for Social Healing and Peacebuilding, Department of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Philippines Paula Porras Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace Saji Prelis Co-Chair of the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security Karla Rodulfo Project Officer and Deputy Director, Youth, Peace and Security Division, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Mridul Upadhay, moderator U.S. Institute of Peace Generation Change Fellow For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/youth-peace-and-security-southeast-asia

The Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) network has released the findings from its latest Metaketa research study, which examines the question: Does community policing build trust in police and reduce crime? It combines the results of field studies on locally-appropriate community policing practices in Brazil, Colombia, Liberia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Uganda. On December 14, USIP hosted security sector experts and practitioners for an in-depth look at EGAP’s Metaketa results — as well as a discussion on how we can use these important findings to help shape the future of community policing. Speakers Presenters Graeme BlairAssistant Professor, University of California Los Angeles Dorothy KronickAssistant Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania Nico RavanillaAssistant Professor of Political Science, University of California San Diego Zulfiqar HameedAdditional Inspector General of Police Operations, Punjab Police Panelists Ena DionSenior Program Officer, Justice and Security Dialogues, U.S. Institute of Peace Sandra Pabon Senior Program Director, Citizen Security Dialogues, U.S. Institute of Peace ‘Kemi OkenyodoExecutive Director, Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative Joseph Hewitt, moderator Vice President of Policy, Learning, and Strategy, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/does-community-policing-build-trust-police-and-reduce-crime

Bolivia’s October 2019 national elections convulsed the country as fraud allegations triggered widespread protests and social conflict. On December 13, USIP and WOLA held an in-depth discussion of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts’ findings and an examination of how the GIEI’s recommendations can promote the kind of accountability, healing and common understanding across Bolivia’s political and identity divides that could ultimately prevent the repetition of the conflict, violence and human rights violations that marked the country’s 2019 electoral crisis. Speakers Steve Hege, introductory remarks Deputy Regional Director for Latin America, U.S. Institute of Peace Juan Mendez Former Member, GIEI; Professor of Human Rights Law in Residence, Washington College of Law, American University Patricia Tappatá Valdez Former Member, GIEI Member, Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Jaime Vidal Former Executive Secretary, GIEI; Coordinator, Follow-Up and Impact Section, IACHR Senator Patricia Arce First Secretary, Justice Commission, Senate of Bolivia Eduardo Rodriguez Velzté Former Interim President of Bolivia Alejandro Bilbao La Vieja Chargé d’Affaires, of the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the US Kathryn Ledebur, moderator Director, Andean Information Network For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/bolivias-search-justice-and-reconciliation

On December 10, USIP hosted Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for a conversation on how they are elevating the role of conflict prevention in U.S. foreign policy and ensuring that lessons from past U.S. stabilization missions are incorporated into future planning. They also discussed how their past international experiences and current work in Congress are advancing U.S. interests in peace and security. Speakers Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) U.S. Representative from California@RepSaraJacobs Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) U.S. Representative from Michigan @RepMeijer Lise Grande, moderator President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/stabilization-prevention-changing-us-strategy-violent-conflict

On December 9, USIP held the fourth in a series of public discussions with Libyan leaders connected to the elections scheduled in the coming months. This fourth event featured Abdul Majeed Saif Al-Nasr. Born in Sebha in 1957, he is former member of the National Transitional Council and former Libyan ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco (2014-2018). He was recently endorsed by the House of Representatives as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Morocco and the Maghreb region. Speakers Mr. Abdul Majeed Saif Al-Nasr Former diplomat and Libyan politician Dr. Mike Yaffe, moderator Vice President, Middle East and North Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/libyan-general-elections-2021-discussion-series-libyan-leaders-2

As the Biden administration commits to revitalizing global democracy, the shocking rise in the number of recent coups demands an urgent response from the United States and its allies and partners. On December 7 and 8, ahead of the Biden administration’s Summit for Democracy, USIP held a two-part event that examined the dynamics driving four of the seven coups and coup attempts that we’ve seen over the past two years. Day 2 featured a discussion on Myanmar. Speakers Billy Ford, moderator Program Officer, Myanmar, U.S. Institute of Peace Khin Ohmar Human Right Activist; Founder, Progressive Voice Sai Kyaw Nyunt General Secretary, Shan National League for Democracy Myat The Thitsar Researcher, University of Massachusetts Gum San Spokesperson, Kachin Political Interim Coordination Team For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/shocking-rise-coups-day-2

As the Biden administration commits to revitalizing global democracy, the shocking rise in the number of recent coups demands an urgent response from the United States and its allies and partners. On December 7 and 8, ahead of the Biden administration’s Summit for Democracy, USIP held a two-part event that examined the dynamics driving four of the seven coups and coup attempts that we’ve seen over the past two years. Day 2 featured a discussion on Guinea-Conakry. Speakers Oge Onubogu, moderator Director, West Africa Program, U.S. Institute of Peace Alexis Arieff Specialist in African Affairs, Congressional Research Services Ibrahima Niang Regional Advocacy Manager, Open Society Institute West Africa Christopher Fomunyoh Senior associate and regional director for Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute Joseph SiegleDirector of Research, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/shocking-rise-coups-day-2

On December 7, USIP and the National Endowment for Democracy held a virtual discussion on safeguarding democracy in West Africa through youth-led movements. Youth activists from Nigeria, Togo and Guinea shared their thoughts on the frustrations driving protests and new models for democratic activism. Speakers DJ Switch (Obianuju Catherine Udeh)Award-Winning Nigerian Musician and Activist; Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy Senami KojahAward-Winning Nigerian Investigative Journalist; Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy Farida NabouremaTogolese Human Rights Activist and Writer; Jennings Randolph Senior Research Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace Ibrahima Diallo Coordinator, Tournons La Page-Guinea; Head of Operations for the National Front for the Defense of the Guinean Constitution Jonathan PinckneySenior Researcher, Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace Zachariah Mampilly Marxe Endowed Chair of International Affairs, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, CUNY Oge Onubogu, moderator Director, West Africa Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/safeguarding-democracy-west-africa

As the Biden administration commits to revitalizing global democracy, the shocking rise in the number of recent coups demands an urgent response from the United States and its allies and partners. On December 7 and 8, ahead of the Biden administration’s Summit for Democracy, USIP held a two-part event that examined the dynamics driving four of the seven coups and coup attempts that we’ve seen over the past two years. Day 1 featured a discussion on Mali. Speakers Ena Dion, moderator Senior Program Officer on Governance, Justice and Security, U.S. Institute of Peace Ambassador J. Peter Pham Distinguished Fellow, Africa Center, Atlantic Council; Former United States Special Envoy for the Sahel Region Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim Consulting Senior Analyst on the Sahel, International Crisis Group Mariam Diallo Drame President, Association Femmes Leadership et Développement Durable (AFLED) For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/shocking-rise-coups-day-1

As the Biden administration commits to revitalizing global democracy, the shocking rise in the number of recent coups demands an urgent response from the United States and its allies and partners. On December 7 and 8, ahead of the Biden administration’s Summit for Democracy, USIP held a two-part event that examined the dynamics driving four of the seven coups and coup attempts that we’ve seen over the past two years. Day 1 featured a discussion on Sudan. Speakers Susan Stigant, moderator Director, Africa Programs, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace Ahmed Kodouda Former Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs Solomon Dersso Managing Director, Amani Africa Hala Al Karib Regional Director, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa Joseph Tucker Senior Expert, Greater Horn of Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/shocking-rise-coups-day-1