European Peace Institute / News

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A group of interfaith leaders shared the mid-Ramadan observance with members of the Muslim faith by marking the occasion with advocacy for peace, moderation, and mutual understanding. The June 20, 2016 meeting, “Fast For Peace,” was held at the International Peace Institute Middle East and North Africa (IPI-MENA) office in Manama.

Imams, reverends, priests, pastors, scholars and other religious and faith representatives adopted a declaration, “Peace Commandments of Fasting,” that urged all warring parties and entities to choose peaceful and political means to resolve their differences, rather than resort to violence. Dialogue is the only way to achieve lasting and comprehensive solutions, they agreed.

Clerics agreed that while different religions have their own traditions related to fasting, the philosophy behind these practices is universal—the elimination of poverty, hunger and inequality. Participants praised efforts by all religious entities to highlight their respective faiths’ peace commandments.

Religious leaders expressed appreciation for the religious freedom in Bahrain that enabled their exchange of ideas. Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Baha’i representatives expressed their best wishes for Muslims during this time, emphasizing the deep-rooted values of peace shared by the fasting practices and rituals of all religions.

The participants strongly rejected acts of violence made in the name of religion, agreeing that all religions’ observance of fasting, lent and other forms of abstinence aim to reinforce the values of peace, solidarity, and mutual respect.

Highlighting their common conviction in the pursuit of peace, the participants appealed to all faith followers to further reflect on the peace reasoning of fasting in religious texts and practices. They commended efforts aiming at peacefully eradicating all forms of incitement to hatred, segregation, and the violation of the freedom of faith.

Reiterating their dedication to the IPI-MENA Interfaith Dialogue, they committed to devote efforts in the holy month of Ramadan, and other faiths’ similar observances, to the promotion of commandments of peace in fasting, and the rest of daily life.

They called on all believers to stand together, speak out and act against violent extremism, and all forms of sectarianism, hatred, exclusion and segregation. They urged all religious fora to further commit to serving all causes of peace through education, gender equity and inter-religious dialogue.

The participants concluded:

• We further value the importance of value-based advocacy and preaching in favor of fasting that means abstaining from all sorts of violence, aggression and discrimination.

• We renew our call on all educational, spiritual and cultural institutions to further promote fasting commandments of peace as enshrined in all beliefs and faiths.

• We call on further scriptural reasoning to demonstrate common peace values in fasting and other commandments within all religions and faiths.

• No single cause deserves one single drop of blood.

Download the Final Declaration

Related Coverage in Arabic:
Bahrain TV (June 22, 2016)

On Tuesday, June 21st at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting a Global Leaders Series presentation featuring Ms. Irina Bokova, candidate for the position of UN secretary-general.

IPI Live Event Feed

At the event, Ms. Bokova will discuss her experience and how it informs her vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. She will address questions including how she would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define her priorities in office.

In February 2016, the Bulgarian Government formally nominated Ms. Bokova as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and studied at the University of Maryland and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ms. Bokova joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1977, where she was responsible for human rights and equality of women issues. She was later appointed in charge of political and legal affairs at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations in New York. She was also a member of the Bulgarian delegation at the United Nations conferences on the equality of women in Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985), and Beijing (1995).

The event will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations Warren Hoge.

On Friday, June 17th at 1:15pm EST, IPI together with the Government of the Republic of Estonia are cohosting a policy forum on women, peace, and diplomacy. Speakers at the event will share their insights on the impact of more female voices at the United Nations and beyond—including in peace and security decision making around the world.

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The positive impact of women’s leadership on peace, security, and development is widely recognized in policymaking at the United Nations. There is mounting evidence that women’s participation is not only a right but a necessity to sustain peace and political solutions after conflict. Women’s presence in foreign policy decision making is increasing, and despite their continued under-representation, experienced and outspoken women leaders are active in every region of the world.

This event will feature a panel of experienced female officials and experts to reflect on the impact of more female voices at the United Nations—from the Security Council, to senior leadership, to peacekeeping operations. The speakers will reflect on the gender dynamics of their work in diplomacy, mediation, and foreign policy at large. Panelists will also be asked to share their thoughts on the UN’s senior appointment process and how long-standing commitments to appoint more women could be realized.

Keynote presentation:
H.E. Ms. Marina Kaljurand, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia

Discussants:
H.E. Ms. Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations
H.E. Ms. Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Nations
Ms. Elmira Bayrasli, Co-founder of Foreign Policy Interrupted, visiting Fellow at the New America Foundation, and lecturer at New York University
Ms. Marie O’Reilly, Head of Research, Institute for Inclusive Security

Moderator:
Ms. Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, Senior Policy Analyst, IPI

On Thursday, June 16th at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting a Global Leaders Series presentation featuring H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim, candidate for the position of United Nations secretary-general.

IPI Live Event Feed

At the event, Dr. Kerim will discuss his experience and how it informs his vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. He will address questions including how he would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define his priorities in office.

In December 2015, the government of the Republic of Macedonia formally nominated Dr. Kerim as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Dr. Kerim is Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia and a member of the Council of Presidents of the UN General Assembly.

Dr. Kerim has more than 30 years of international political experience, as Foreign Minister, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, and President of the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

On Wednesday, June 15th at 6:20pm EST, IPI is hosting a Distinguished Author Series event featuring Agnia Grigas, author of Beyond Crimea: The New Russian Empire.

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How will a newly assertive Russia seek to redraw post-Soviet borders, and what are the consequences across the peripheries of Russia and beyond? And how should the European Union and NATO respond to this expansionist zeal? In her book, author and political risk expert Agnia Grigas illustrates the way Moscow has quietly leveraged the populations of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in bordering nations to pursue its territorial goals. Demonstrating how this policy has been implemented in Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, and Georgia, she provides up-to-date analysis of the nature of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy ambitions in Europe and Asia, and Russia’s strategy of justifying its moves as “compatriot protection” to warn that the Baltic States, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and others are also at risk.

The conversation will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations, Warren Hoge.

IPI’s Distinguished Author Series brings critically acclaimed writers to IPI to present on international issues and to engage in a lively discussion with experts from the permanent missions to the UN and other members of the foreign affairs community in New York.

On Tuesday, June 14th at 1:30pm EST, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) will host its final Public Consultation on the Discussion Paper, “Justice, Human Rights, and the International Legal System.”

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The past three decades have seen significant developments with respect to international criminal justice, including for serious and widespread violations of human rights. The Security Council has played a key role in these developments, including through the powers it was granted under the Statute of the International Criminal Court. However, the Security Council has taken on its role as a human rights enforcer rather reluctantly and on an ad hoc basis. Moreover, it is hardly the only place within the multilateral system anchored in the UN where respect for human rights and accountability for violations thereof can and should be addressed.

This ICM Discussion Paper provides a number of policy recommendations for the multilateral system to better address the challenges in promoting respect for human rights and accountability for violations thereof. They include a call for greater investment in prevention and the positive power of human rights, access to adequate justice, and a meaningful management of the inherent tensions between human rights, justice, and peace.

Download the Discussion Paper

Discussants:
Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mr. Stefan Barriga, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Lichtenstein to the United Nations
Mr. Benjamin Majekodunmi, Senior Officer, Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General
Ms. Madeleine Sinclair, New York Office Director & Legal Counsel, International Service for Human Rights

Moderator:
Dr. Els Debuf, Senior Advisor for Humanitarian Affairs, Independent Commission on Multilateralism

On Wednesday, June 8th, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) webcasted a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Weapons of Mass Destruction, Non-proliferation, and Disarmament.”

The threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) may seem antiquated and unlikely to materialize, but the mere existence of WMD remains one of the paramount risks to global peace and stability. Nuclear weapons are the biggest gap in the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. While important baseline tools to counter WMD threats and prevent proliferation exist, few of these tools address nuclear weapons, and even fewer deal with future threats.

This ICM Discussion Paper makes a series of recommendations addressing, among other issues, the disarmament machinery, the role and responsibilities of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN Security Council Resolution 1540, new technologies, and the role of civil society at the UN.

Discussants:
H.E. Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the UN
Ms. Ray Acheson, Director, Reaching Critical Will
Mr. Thomas Markram, Director and Deputy to the High Representative, Office for Disarmament Affairs, UN
Prof. Zia Mian, Director, Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University

Moderator:
Ms. Véronique Pepin-Hallé, Senior Adviser, Independent Commission on Multilateralism

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An expert group of diplomats, UN officials, and representatives from civil society organizations and think tanks discussed the policy and programmatic implications of implementing the “sustaining peace” approach outlined in identical General Assembly and Security Council resolutions adopted April 27, 2016. The 2016 edition of the annual IPI New York Seminar was held June 7, 2016.

The event was co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Italy and Mexico to the United Nations, and their respective ambassadors, Sebastiano Cardi, and Juan José Gómez Camacho, delivered opening remarks.

Mr. Cardi said that Italy sees the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) “as the leader in ‘prevention’ at the UN.” He recognized that member states now have a clear and immediate mandate to engage the PBC in revising its working methods. Participants in the seminar recommended that the PBC use its convening capacity to bring different stakeholders into its consultations and inject a long-term perspective into its role.

On the conference theme, Mr. Cardi added, “UN relationships with regional organizations and financial institutions are key to ‘sustaining peace.’”
Mr. Gómez Camacho pointed out an incredibly disproportionate amount of the UN budget—seventy percent—is allocated to UN Peacekeeping operations. Calling for change, he said, “We must promote development first as a way to ensure long-term sustainable peace.” For this reason, Mexico “created the group of friends of sustainable peace to work with all members in promoting new concept,” he said.

In addition to the connection between sustainable development and peace, participants noted that in order to bring about the long-term shift from crisis response to sustaining peace, the concept of integrated planning and integrated missions—bringing together the different pillars of the UN together at headquarters and in the field—needs to be fully implemented and backed up with funding and staffing. This part of the seminar was held under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution.

Another key issue addressed was ensuring a reliable source of funding for sustaining peace, and connecting this to strategic planning in the field and at UN headquarters. Participants explored what new sources of funding and strategic partnerships are possible for the Middle East and Africa in particular.

Gillian Bird, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, and Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, provided some background on the adoption of the dual resolutions. They pointed out that the resolutions build on the work of the 2015 reviews of UN peace operations, the peacebuilding architecture, and the women, peace, and security agenda, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Sustaining peace, as defined in the resolutions, means that peacebuilding is no longer confined to the post-conflict period but applies to all phases of conflict: before it breaks out, while it is ongoing, and after it has ended, they explained.

The two measures offer new opportunities for the UN as a whole, and the PBC in particular, to work more effectively across divides.

Conflict prevention has remained under-prioritized for decades and needs to be brought back to the forefront, discussants said. To that end, they agreed that making a conceptual shift to sustaining peace will only be possible if UN entities, member states, international financial institutions, civil society, and academia take ownership of, and actively promote, a new understanding of the organization’s work. Member states have an especially crucial role in translating this mandate into action, closing the gap between rhetorical support and a willingness to act.

Finally, the participants issued a call to action to the incoming secretary-general to make this agenda one of his or her top priorities.

Download the Meeting Brief

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Is it possible to protect borders and refugees at the same time? This was the question posed at a round table discussion at IPI’s Vienna office on June 7th. With so many people on the move around the world, and states desperate to protect their sovereignty, governments are increasingly under pressure to control and even close their borders. But this is hindering the ability of refugees to seek asylum.

Participants took part in an open and lively discussion on how to manage borders and maintain stability in a way that does not violate the rights of people on the move. IPI’s Senior Vice President, Walter Kemp, presented IPI’s previous work on Desperate Migration and Forced Displacement, including a report on the topic written for the Independent Commission on Multilateralism. He expressed concern at the lack of leadership and creative solutions to address the challenge, and encouraged participants to use this opportunity to come forward with fresh ideas.

The meeting started with a general consensus that the current situation should not only be Europe’s problem, rather the issue should be addressed at the global level with a sense of solidarity among peoples and states.

Mr. Kemp recalled the Salzburg Declaration of September 9, 2015 in which a number of senior officials taking part in the IPI Salzburg Forum called for a global rescue initiative to create humane, properly resourced and equipped reception centers in key hubs in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe where refugees and migrants are congregating. “Why not have a rescue operation to pick them up?” he asked, echoing the Salzburg declaration that said such an initiative would reduce unsafe journeys, save lives, cut smuggling and trafficking, and circumvent unsympathetic governments.

Several participants, including UNHCR Spokesperson and Head of Communications Melissa Fleming, said that such appeals have already been made, but there has been insufficient support for resettlement. She noted that UNHCR’s goal is to resettle at least ten percent of the Syrian refugee population currently living in neighboring countries within the next few years. Another participant noted that there are independent initiatives like a company called Refugee Air. Nevertheless, the scale remains much too small to tackle the millions of refugees–particularly from Syria–that are in need of protection. It was also noted that resettlement requires a common European asylum and migration policy rather than ad hoc national responses. Participants discussed the advantages and disadvantages of granting all Syrians temporary protection status.

In the course of the discussion (involving representatives of inter- and non-governmental organizations as well as representatives of states), at least one participant questioned why the current international protection regime makes a distinction between “good” refugees that need help and “bad” migrants that should be sent home. He noted that many migrants are also moving for the sake of survival, and that this trend will only increase because of inequality and climate change. He noted that most flows of peoples are mixed between the two, or that people’s status changes along different parts of their journey.

At the same time, most participants felt that it would be dangerous to reopen the UN 1951 Convention on the status of refugees. “We will never get a better Geneva convention again–so hands off the Geneva convention!” emphasized Heinz Patzelt, Secretary General of Amnesty International Austria. That said, there was wide agreement on the need to strengthen the legal regime to protect migrants.

Walter Kemp highlighted a number of lessons learned from a new IPI report on the Cayucos crisis of 2006-2008 when 40,000 people tried to cross from West Africa to the Canary Islands in small wooden boats. He noted the priority that was given to saving lives, the use of readmission agreements with countries of West Africa, law enforcement cooperation, and development assistance to reduce incentives for people to move abroad. However, it was noted that some of these lessons would be hard to apply in Libya at the moment because of instability.

Lessons learned from the exodus of Vietnamese boat people starting in the late 1970s were also recalled. Alexander Casella, who worked for UNHCR at that time, stressed that cooperation with Vietnam had been vital for alleviating this challenge.

The tendency towards the “externalization” of borders was discussed, as seen in the Cayucos crisis a decade ago, Australia’s asylum policy, and recent decisions in some EU countries to close their borders and push the responsibility back to Greece and Turkey. They highlighted the danger of such policies in terms of preventing people from seeking asylum and violating the principle of non-refoulement.

Participants discussed preparations for the UN high-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants that will take place in New York on September 19, 2016. They discussed some of the observations and recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s report of April 12, entitled “In safety and dignity: addressing large movements of refugees and migrants.” IPI will hold a meeting in New York on June 23 to put forward policy suggestions for the high-level meeting.

There was a particularly lively discussion on how to change the toxic narrative towards migrants and refugees. Martijn Pluim of the International Center for Migration Policy Development said, “If we cannot change the narrative, then we cannot solve the problem.” Migration expert Kilian Kleinschmidt and human rights lawyer Manfred Nowak agreed that civil society needs to have the feeling that politicians have the situation under control. “One of the main reasons why the right wing party gained so much popularity in Austria is the fact that the political response to the refugee influx last year was perceived as chaotic. This created fear.” Nowak is convinced that creating positive incentives for countries to take more refugees, like establishing a global solidarity fund, could help to change the narrative from negative to positive. Mr. Patzelt of Amnesty International emphasized that hosting refugees is a question of willingness and not ability. He noted that Austria hosts more than two million tourists every year, so it should not be a crisis to take in at least 35,000 refugees.“It is ridiculous to say that European countries cannot handle it,” he said.

In this and other respects, participants highlighted the importance of leadership, a constructive narrative, and effective management of the process.

IPI will continue to seek actionable solutions to this issue through dialogue, case studies, and policy recommendations.

The outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa from 2014 to 2015 underscored the fragility of public health services in countries emerging from protracted conflict, as well as the link between governance and health. In both Sierra Leone and Liberia, war had seriously undermined the health sector. Ebola arrived as the large-scale postwar international presence was downsizing and the responsibility for healthcare was shifting to the governments. Both governments had developed comprehensive health policies and plans, including devolution of health service delivery, but these were not fully implemented in practice. As a result, they were unprepared to address the Ebola crisis.

In this report, authors Edward Mulbah and Charles Silver explore the response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and Liberia, respectively. They both begin by examining the state of healthcare governance prior to the outbreak, then look into how health service providers, policymakers, communities, and volunteers grappled with the challenges the outbreak posed. Based on their analysis, the authors identify a number of lessons emerging from the response to the crisis in both countries:

• Local engagement is critical: In both countries, the involvement of local actors who understood the local context and were trusted by their communities was crucial to eventually containing the outbreak.
• Emergency measures can be effective but can also have negative consequences: The bold containment measures that both governments adopted helped contain Ebola but could have been better implemented.
• Top-down approaches are insufficient, and inclusivity is necessary: The shift from a top-down approach to greater involvement of state and non-state actors, including civil society groups and traditional leaders, facilitated prevention, control, and containment.

Download

On Wednesday, June 8th at 9:15am EST, UN Secretary-General Candidate António Guterres will discuss his experience and how it informs his vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. He will address questions including how he would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define his priorities in office.

In February 2016, the government of Portugal formally nominated Mr. Guterres as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Mr. Guterres served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from June 2005 to December 2015. During his tenure, he oversaw a profound structural reform of UNHCR, reducing staff in its Geneva headquarters by over 20 percent and increasing the organization’s cost effectiveness and emergency response capacity. Following the introduction of a needs-based budgeting approach and an increase in the number of people displaced by conflict and persecution—from 38 million in 2005 to over 60 million in 2015—the volume of UNHCR’s activities tripled during his time in office. Indeed, Mr. Guterres’s tenure was marked by some of the largest displacement crises in decades, particularly the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, but also the crises in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Yemen.

This event is part of IPI’s Global Leader Series.

The conversation will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations Warren Hoge.

On Monday, June 6th the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) will be webcasting a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper, “Global Pandemics and Global Public Health.”

The event will stream live from Geneva, beginning at 10:00am New York time/4:00pm Geneva time.

Download the Discussion Paper

On Friday, June 3rd at 1:30pm EST, the Independent Commission on Multilateralism is hosting a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Humanitarian Engagements.” This Public Consultation provides a platform for representatives from member states, civil society, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia, and the United Nations to comment on the Discussion Paper’s recommendations and exchange perspectives on the larger trends at hand.

Never before has the gap between massive humanitarian need in so many crises around the world and the international capacity to deliver an adequate humanitarian response appeared greater than it does today. This paper aims to identify the main reasons underlying this reality and to trigger a discussion on how the multilateral system anchored in the UN can better prevent and respond to humanitarian crises in the twenty-first century. Contemporary challenges in humanitarian action are threefold and relate to the international community’s capacity to (1) stem the needs arising from humanitarian crises, (2) reach the victims of these crises and deliver relief, and (3) provide for an adequate, timely, effective, and sustainable response to humanitarian needs. In each of these areas of work, the paper poses a set of questions to trigger discussions and help identify recommendations for action.

Download the Discussion Paper

Discussants:

Mr. Stephane Ojeda, Deputy Permanent Representative and Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to the United Nations
Dr. Abby Stoddard, Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes
Mr. Hansjoerg Strohmeyer, Chief, Policy Development and Studies, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Moderator:
Dr. Els Debuf, Senior Adviser, Humanitarian Affairs, Independent Commission on Multilateralism

Ten years ago, thousands of people risked their lives in wooden boats called cayucos to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. This sudden influx of tens of thousands of desperate migrants and refugees overwhelmed the islands and created a humanitarian crisis for Spain and the European Union. But a decade later, very few are heading to the Canaries.

What triggered the refugee crisis in the Canary Islands in 2006? What was the response? Why are almost no migrants and refugees heading to the Canary Islands today? And what lessons can be learned for other parts of the world? The latest report from IPI, by Walter Kemp, addresses these questions. It is the first in a series of reports on desperate migration and forced displacement.

Although the cayucos crisis differs from other migration crises in Europe—the Canaries are islands, most of the countries of origin were not failed states, and most of those arriving were migrants rather than refugees—the report identifies a number of lessons that could be transferable:

• Involvement of the whole government, effective leadership, and coordination among all stakeholders are necessary to develop an effective long-term approach.
• Pursuing a coherent regional strategy can help address the push and pull factors at the root of the crisis and ensure the problem is not simply displaced elsewhere.
• Saving lives should take precedence over border management.
• If migrants are to be pushed back to their point of departure, there must be mechanisms to ensure respect for their rights.

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On Wednesday June 1st, IPI is hosting the live broadcast of it’s 46th Annual Vienna Seminar entitled “Prepared for the Future? Adapting Peace Operations to a Changing World.”

Click here to view the event live>>

The 46th IPI Vienna Seminar builds on a continuing commitment by the International Peace Institute to support the implementation of the recommendations from the HIPPO and SG reports, as well as the other reviews. It seeks to take stock of the status of implementation of the recommendations put forward by HIPPO to date, keeping in mind that this year marks the final year for the current Secretary-General’s term. It seeks to explore potential opportunities ahead. Finally, looking at how the implementation of the key recommendations of these review processes can be advanced in order to help the United Nations and its Member States further unite their strengths for peace, the Seminar aims to build and sustain the political momentum to champion the strengthening of peace operations during and beyond 2016.

Download the Agenda

After 23 years of service, Rita E. Hauser was honored this week during a ceremony at the International Peace Institute after stepping aside as IPI Chair of the Board. Professor Michael W. Doyle, Director of Columbia University’s Global Policy Initiative, became interim chair. Dr. Hauser expressed her gratitude to the assembled IPI staff in front of the IPI’s library on the 4th floor, which was dedicated to her.

During his remarks, IPI President Terje Rød-Larsen lauded Dr. Hauser for her dedication to peace and security, and to IPI. Playing off one of Dr. Hauser’s oft-repeated remarks about the organization as “the little mouse that roared,” Mr. Rød-Larsen noted that, during her tenure, IPI has grown to be more of a lion, with 50 staff in three offices.

In his brief remarks, Professor Doyle added that he admired Dr. Hauser’s leadership and for being what he called the “queen of tough love.” Dr. Hauser remains deeply involved in Middle East affairs and civil society including through the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University.

On Thursday, May 26th at 1:25pm EST, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) is cohosting a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Armed Conflict: Mediation, Conciliation, and Peacekeeping.” This Public Consultation provides a platform for representatives from member states, civil society, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia, and the United Nations to comment on the Discussion Paper’s recommendations and exchange perspectives on the larger trends and challenges at hand.

From the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, to the rekindling of long-standing conflicts in places such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia, to the desperate waves of refugees arriving in Europe, to the specter of sectarian violence in Burundi and elsewhere, recent events have challenged the international system to provide adequate responses.

The persistence of armed conflict motivates a growing perception that global stability is at risk. While the number of armed conflicts has decreased, the number of conflict-related deaths has dramatically increased, as has the number of high-intensity, long-lasting conflicts. Further, the increased involvement of various outside and non-state actors, as well as the increased presence of organized crime in conflict settings, has made recent armed conflicts resistant to peaceful settlement. It was in this context that the UN system set out to review the key elements of its peace and security architecture in 2015. This Discussion Paper assesses these reviews, additional developments such as the adoption of the joint resolution on the Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture, as well as other challenges facing the multilateral system in the areas of: mediation, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping.

Discussants:
H.E. Mr. Philbert Johnson, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations
Mr. Arthur Boutellis, Director, Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute
Ms. Tatiana Carayannis, Deputy Director, Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum, Social Science Research Council
Ms. Mari Yamashita, Director, United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office

Moderator:
Dr. Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Adviser, International Peace Institute

On Wednesday, May 25th at 6:15pm EST, IPI together with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, and the Nordic Africa Institute are cohosting a forward-looking policy forum event on the occasion of Africa Day to discuss consolidating the AU-UN strategic partnership.

Although the UN is ultimately responsible for international peace and security, cooperating with regional organizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America helps the UN carry out this responsibility more efficiently and effectively than if it had to act on its own.

In the current global context, the relationship between the UN and the AU stands out as crucial for international peace and security. UN and AU peace operations are mutually interdependent on several levels, and a concerted effort is needed from both institutions to further deepen and institutionalize this relationship.

The presentations at the event will identify which elements of this relationship need to be further strengthened in the months ahead and will offer specific recommendations on key issues, such as shared analysis and planning, support and financing, transitions, and joint lessons learned studies.

Speakers:
Dr. Cedric de Coning, Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and Senior Advisor at the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
Dr. Donald Kaberuka, High Representative for the African Union (AU) Peace Fund
H.E. Dr. Monica Juma, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya
Mr. El Ghassim Wane, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations
H.E. Mr. Tekeda Alemu, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations

Moderator:
Mr. Arthur Boutellis, Director of IPI’s Center for Peace Operations

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On May 19, 2016, the International Peace Institute’s Middle East and North Africa office (IPI MENA) hosted Ahmad Khalfan al-Mansoori, Secretary-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace (MRAWP). Mr. Mansoori spoke about the organization’s aims and vision to an audience consisting of ambassadors, government officials, various religious communities, corporate institutions, civil society leaders and academia.

In a presentation moderated by IPI MENA Director Mr. Nejib Friji, Mr. Mansoori elaborated on the MRAWP areas of interest, ranging from sustainable development contributions, journalism, medicine, sport and humanitarian work aimed at reducing poverty, improving knowledge, and empowering society as a whole.

Stressing the award’s focus on women’s empowerment, the MRAWP Secretary-General said empowered women are key factors to peace.

Highlighting Islam’s contribution to peace, he said the award, established by royal decree in 2011, aims to build bridges of cooperation between diverse cultures and promotes the values of harmony, tolerance, and moderation.

In explaining MWRAP’s Peace Libraries, Mr. Mansoori said the award will encourage reading and promote young writers. In this regard, he announced that the award will mark the International Day for Poets of Peace.

Referring to the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives, which aim to fight poverty and disease, spread knowledge, empower communities, and foster future innovation, he said they involve 28 entities with 1,400 programs targeting over 130 million people. The initiatives will provide education for 20 million children, medication for 30 million people, 2 billion UAE Dirhams for hospitals and medical research, and invest 500 million UAE Dirhams in promoting tolerance in the region. Mr. Mansoori disclosed that the award is USD 1.5 million.

He concluded by saying that the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace was one drop in the ocean of world peace. Mr. Mansoori said MRAWP looks forward to the strong partnership with IPI MENA.

On Thursday, May 19th, IPI together with the Centre for Conflict Resolution of Cape Town, South Africa, cohosted the launch of a new book entitled Thabo Mbeki: The Rise and Fall of Africa’s Philosopher-King edited by Adekeye Adebajo.

Thabo Mbeki is considered by many as the most important African political figure of his generation and has been a dominant figure in South African politics for 14 years. A pan-African philosopher-king who spent two decades in exile, Mr. Mbeki, as president of Africa’s most industrialized state, set out a sweeping vision of an African Renaissance. As a liberation leader in exile, he was instrumental in his party’s anti-apartheid struggle. During the South African transition, he helped build one of the world’s most respected constitutional democracies. As president, despite some successes, he was unable to overcome South Africa’s inherited socioeconomic challenges, and his disastrous AIDS policies will remain a major blot on his legacy. He will, however, be remembered more as a foreign policy president for his efforts in peacemaking in Africa and in building continental institutions such as the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). This book seeks to rescue him from South African parochialism and restore him to the pan-African pantheon.

Speaker:
Dr. Adekeye Adebajo, Executive Director, Centre for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town

Discussant:
Ambassador Princeton N. Lyman, Senior Adviser, United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

Moderator:
Ambassador John Hirsch, Senior Adviser, International Peace Institute