Day: October 26, 2013

Peace picks, October 28 – November 1

Out early this week: 

1. Impact of Donor Counter-Terrorism Measures on Principled Humanitarian Action

Monday, October 28, 2013 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

CSIS – 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC

Introductory Remarks by:
  Sam Worthington
, President & CEO, InterAction

Panel Discussion:

Valerie Amos
 Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations

Jan Egeland 
Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council

Ambassador Daniel Fried
 Coordinator of Sanctions Policy, U.S. State Department

Ambassador William Garvelink 
Senior Adviser, CSIS Project on U.S. Leadership in Development and Former U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Moderated by:Daniel Runde
 Director of the Project on Prosperity and Development and William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis, CSIS


Please RSVP to PPD@csis.org.

Despite the global attention to counter-terrorism and human rights issues, the impact of counter-terrorism measures on humanitarian action has not been studied in detail. To address this gap, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Norwegian Refugee Council released a report in July 2013 entitled the Study of the Impact of Donor Counter-Terrorism Measures on Principled Humanitarian Action. The report takes a comprehensive look at how counter-terror measures are impacting the ability of humanitarian agencies to respond to emergencies, especially in countries on the front lines of the war on terror, and makes recommendations on how to reconcile these measures with the humanitarian imperative.
Join us for a conversation with representatives from the United Nations, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and the United States Government as they discuss the impact of these restrictions in countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and the West Bank and Gaza, and in countries of possible future impact, including Mali, Pakistan, and Yemen.

2. WOMEN AND PEACEBUILDING: WOMEN’S ROLES IN POLITICAL TRANSITIONS IN YEMEN AND THE REGION

Monday, October 28, 2013
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

National Democratic Institute
 8th Floor Board Room
 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.

And streaming online at: www.ndi.org/live

With
 Amat Al Alim Alsoswa,Delegate, Yemen National Dialogue Conference and former Minister of Human Rights

Susan Markham,Director, Women’s Political Participation, NDI

Summer Lopez,Regional Coordinator for the Middle East (Acting)
Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, USAID

The importance of including women in peace negotiations, transitional governments and long-term political processes is increasingly recognized by national and international bodies as critical for the stability of emerging democracies. In each stage of a country’s transition, whether entrenched in conflict or moving forward in reconciliation, there are opportunities available for women’s inclusion that can have a profound effect on the successful outcome of a country’s transition of power, peace and security.

This discussion will draw upon Yemen’s National Dialogue process and examples from ongoing transitions in the Middle East and North Africa to highlight challenges and lessons learned for promoting women’s participation in peace negotiations and political transitions.

Please RSVP via this webform.

 

3. Political Turmoil, Human Costs: Reflections on the Kashmir Conflict

OCTOBER 28, 2013 WASHINGTON, DC
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST
SUMMARY

With incidents along their disputed border still relatively common, India and Pakistan’s decades-old quarrel over Kashmir shows little hope of subsiding.
REGISTER TO ATTEND

With incidents along their disputed border still relatively common, India and Pakistan’s decades-old quarrel over Kashmir shows little hope of subsiding. Join Kashmir-born author and journalist Rahul Pandita for a discussion of the conflict and his new memoir of his childhood in and exile from Kashmir, Our Moon Has Blood Clots(Random House India, 2013).

Pandita will offer a rare perspective on the dispute, combining political analysis with the personal experience of growing up as part of a religious minority group in one of the world’s most unstable regions. Carnegie’s Ashley J. Tellis will moderate.

RAHUL PANDITA

Rahul Pandita is a journalist and author based in New Delhi. He was the 2010 recipient of the International Red Cross award for conflict reporting, and has written extensively about conflict in Iraq, Sri Lanka, and Kashmir.

ASHLEY J. TELLIS

Ashley J. Tellis is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace specializing in international security, defense, and Asian strategic issues.

4.  New Leadership in Tehran: Time for Rapprochement?

DATE / TIME
 Monday, October 28, 2013 / 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

LOCATION 
Elliott School of International Affairs, SMPA
1957 E Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 (map)

SPEAKER(S) 
John Limbert, Dr. Shireen Hunter

Ambassador John Limbert, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran

Dr. Shireen Hunter, Visiting Fellow, Center for Christian Muslim Understanding and Director, Carnegie Endowment Project on reformist Islam

The George Washington University International Affairs Society and the American Iranian Council will be hosting ‘New Leadership in Iran: Time for Rapprochement?’, a conference that will identify the prospects and mechanisms for a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran relations. The conference aims to build upon the momentum created by the election of moderate Dr. Hassan Rouhani as Iranian President, President Obama’s engagement policy with Tehran and the recent events in Geneva and at the United Nations General Assembly to generate ideas for a possible settlement of the nuclear dossier.

RSVP: bit.ly/GThrgi

Sponsored by the GW International Affairs Society and the American Iranian Council

 

5. Regional Cooperation: An Imperative for Transatlantic Defense

October 29, 2013 – 1:30 pm

1030 15th Street, NW, 12th Floor

Washington, DC

An address and discussion with

H.E. Carl Haglund

Minster of Defense

Republic of Finland

Introduced and Moderated by

Damon Wilson

Executive Vice President

Atlantic Council

Please join the Atlantic Council for an address by, and discussion with, Finnish Minister of Defense Carl Haglund, who will detail the importance of regional cooperation for transatlantic security.

Building on the successes of Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), Minister Haglund will make a case for NATO member and partner countries to follow a similar framework to sustain present-day interoperability levels and enhance military capabilities. NORDEFCO’s five members states—Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—use regional networking to increase their interoperability via cross-border cooperation, build-up and maintain necessary military capabilities, and provide cost-effective contributions to international efforts.

Representatives of the press are welcome, and all the proceedings of this event are on-the-record.

When you arrive, please use the the West Tower elevators.

Business attire is requested.

If you encounter problems with the registration process, please contact us.

Bios

H.E. Carl Haglund has been the minister of defense of Finland since July 5, 2012. Previously, he served as the party leader of the Swedish People’s Party, and from 2009 to 2012 he was a member of the European Parliament. In 2008, he assumed the position of state secretary for the minister of culture and sport, and in 2007 he was an adviser to the ministers of the Swedish People’s Party.

Register

 

6. Iraq’s Transition: Remarks by Iraqi Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Noori al-Maliki

USIP – Thursday, October 31, 2013 10:00am

The United States Institute of Peace will host Iraqi Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Noori al-Maliki for public remarks and a discussion on U.S.-Iraq relations, and the current challenges facing Iraq and the region.

Webcast: This event will be webcast live beginning at 10:00am ET on October 31.

Iraq has made significant progress since the last of U.S. troops left the country in December 2011, but continues to face serious challenges. Iraq’s economy became stronger, provincial and regional elections were organized, and the country has made steady steps toward regaining its regional and international stature. At the same time, the country is struggling with high levels of violence and other spillover effects from Syria, as it tries to hold national elections in 2014 and find a workable common vision of governance.

To discuss these matters and more, kindly join us for what promises to be an interesting event at 10:00-11:30am on October 31, 2013 at USIP’s Headquarters in Washington D.C. Follow the conversation on Twitter with @USIP, @IraqiEmbassyUSA, and #USIPIraq.

Agenda:

Jim Marshall, Opening Remarks and Moderator
 President, U.S. Institute of Peace

Ambassador  Beth Jones, Introductory Remarks 
Acting Assistant Secretary of State – Near Eastern Affairs

H.E. Noori al-Maliki, Keynote Remarks
 Prime Minister of Republic of Iraq

Moderated discussion

RSVP Now

 

 7. The Way Forward in Afghanistan: Embracing Opportunity in the Midst of Transition

Thursday October 31, 2013 12:15-1:45pm

New America Foundation

Since 2001, the United States has been heavily engaged in Afghanistan. The failures of this effort have been well documented, but what has often been overlooked are the immense gains that have been achieved.

As Afghanistan enters a turbulent transition period, including presidential elections in April 2014, the ongoing transition from U.S.-led to Afghan-led security operations, and the draw down of U.S. troops, it is important that U.S. policymakers keep the full picture in mind.

Calls for the United States to walk away from Afghanistan ignore the progress that has been made, and such a result would be catastrophic for the people of Afghanistan. It would also call into question the last 12 years of U.S.efforts in the country.

The New America Foundation and the Alliance in Support of the Afghan People are pleased to invite you to a discussion about the prospects for Afghanistan’s future,in light of past progress and upcoming challenges.

 

Featured Speakers:

Haseeb Humayoon

Member of Afghanistan 1400

 

Clare Lockhart

President, Institute for State Effectiveness

 

David Sedney  

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan,

Pakistan, and Central Asia

 

Eleanor Smeal

President, Feminist Majority Foundation

 

Moderator:

Omar Samad

Senior Fellow, New America Foundation

 

To RSVP for the event, click on the red button or go to the event page:    

http://www.newamerica.net/events/2013/the_way_forward_in_afghanistan

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