On November 8, USIP and the Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA) hosted a presentation of journalist Aron Ouzilevski’s research on how anti-war Russian exiles have adapted to their new lives, followed by a discussion about what the future might hold.

Aron Ouzilevski
Institute of Current World Affairs Fellow and Journalist

Lyubov Sobol
Russian Opposition Politician

Anna Veduta
Director of Strategic Communication, Free Russia Foundation

Gregory Feifer, moderator
Executive Director, Institute of Current World Affairs

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/new-lives-russians-exile

On November 7, USIP’s hosted its annual “First in War, First in Peace” conversation. Named in honor of George Washington, who was famously eulogized as “first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen,” this annual series was created to engage and learn from our miliary veterans. This year’s program explored our military’s recent contributions in conflict and post-conflict areas and examine how stability and democracy can lead to better peace and security in a region.

Nancy Zirkin, welcoming remarks
Vice Chair, Board of Directors, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, introductory remarks
Executive Director, George Washington Presidential Library

Maura Hennigan
Brigadier General, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, U.S. Marine Corps

Dr. Carolyn Washington
Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army; Adjunct Professor, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Florida State University

Keith Mines, moderator
Vice President, Latin America Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/first-war-first-peace-2024

The 30th issue of Conciliation Resources’ Accord publication series, “Still Time to Talk: Adaptation and Innovation in Peace Mediation,” brings together practitioners, policymakers, analysts and activists from around the world to explore innovative ways to strengthen mediation processes going forward. On October 31, USIP and Conciliation Resources hosted a discussion of “Still Time to Talk: Adaptation and Innovation in Peace Mediation.”

Sasha Pippenger, moderator
Acting Director, Peace Processes, U.S. Institute of Peace

Teresa Whitfield
Former Director, Policy and Mediation Division, U.N. Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Editor, “Still Time to Talk: Adaptation and Innovation in Peace Mediation”

Sean Kane
Contributing Author, “Still Time to Talk: Adaptation and Innovation in Peace Mediation”

Meredith Preston McGhie
Secretary General, Global Centre for Pluralism

Yun Sun
Senior Fellow, Stimson Center

Alexander Ramsbotham
Director of Research and Innovation, Conciliation Resources

Tyler J. Thompson
Senior Advisor, Negotiations Support Unit, U.S. State Department, Bureau of Conflict & Stabilization Operations

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/still-time-talk-adaptation-and-innovation-peace-mediation

In Colombia, more than 100,000 people have disappeared over the course of the country’s six decades of ongoing armed conflict. On October 21, USIP and the Embassy of Colombia hosted a public presentation on the Missing Persons Search Unit’s remarkable forensic and restorative work, as well as the launch of "Still Missing: Colombia's Search for the Disappeared from Six Decades of Ongoing Conflict," a temporary photo exhibit at USIP that details the unit’s search efforts.

Daniel García-Peña, opening remarks
Colombian Ambassador to the United States

Luz Janeth Forero
Director, Missing Person Search Unit

Major (retired) Cesar Maldonado
Truth Provider as Former Colombian Army Officer

Daniela Mostacilla
Family Member of Forced Disappearance Victim

Leyner Palacios
Senior Expert on Restorative Justice, Colombia, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Beth Van Schaack, closing remarks
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State

Steve Hege, moderator
Colombia Country Director, Colombia, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/searching-colombias-missing-persons

Twenty-three years ago, the Bougainville Peace Agreement ended the deadliest conflict in the South Pacific since World War II after a decade of fighting. The hard-won peace in what is now the Autonomous Region of Bougainville — made up of Papua New Guinea’s easternmost islands — has been regarded as a rare success story among contemporary peace processes. However, Bougainville’s political future remains unresolved. On October 18, USIP hosted a conversation about the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and what the peace process’s uncertain future might mean for peace and security in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and the broader region.

Gordon Peake, Ph.D., moderator
Senior Advisor, Pacific Islands, U.S. Institute of Peace

James Tanis
Former President, Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Kevin Pullen
Former Strategic Adviser to the Chief Secretary, Government of Papua New Guinea; PhD Candidate, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University

Camilla Pohle
Senior Program Specialist, Pacific Islands, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/sustaining-peace-bougainville

Curbing corruption in Latin America requires more than just top-down institutional reforms — it requires the active engagement of citizens across the region. On October 15 and 16, USIP held three webcasts exploring how to empower citizens to hold local officials accountable, how to use restorative mechanisms to repair the harms suffered by vulnerable communities, and how to mobilize the private sector against the unfair practices that stifle competition. International experts shared lessons learned around the world and discussed replicating these initiatives in Guatemala, where the government has made fighting systemic corruption a national priority.

Panelists

• Mike Denly
  Assistant Professor, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University; Executive Director, Lab for Economic Development Research
• Welby Leaman
  Senior Director for Global Government Affairs, Walmart
• Tanya Khavanska
  Head of Business Integrity Programme, Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
• Lisa Kristin Miller
  Head, Integrity Compliance, Integrity Vice Presidency, World Bank Group
• Frank Brown, moderator
  Director, Anti-Corruption and Governance Center, Center for International Private Enterprise

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/mobilizing-latin-american-citizens-against-corruption

Curbing corruption in Latin America requires more than just top-down institutional reforms — it requires the active engagement of citizens across the region. On October 15 and 16, USIP held three webcasts exploring how to empower citizens to hold local officials accountable, how to use restorative mechanisms to repair the harms suffered by vulnerable communities, and how to mobilize the private sector against the unfair practices that stifle competition. International experts shared lessons learned around the world and discussed replicating these initiatives in Guatemala, where the government has made fighting systemic corruption a national priority.

Panelists

• Fanie Du Toit
  Former Executive Director, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (Cape Town, South Africa)
• Edgar Gutierrez Aiza
  Doctoral Candidate, Oxford University
• Jennifer Llewellyn
  Professor of Law and Director of the Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
• Gabriel Rojas-Andrade
  Director for Restorative Justice, Colombia, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Carl Stauffer, moderator
  Senior Expert, Reconciliation, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/mobilizing-latin-american-citizens-against-corruption

Curbing corruption in Latin America requires more than just top-down institutional reforms — it requires the active engagement of citizens across the region. On October 15 and 16, USIP held three webcasts exploring how to empower citizens to hold local officials accountable, how to use restorative mechanisms to repair the harms suffered by vulnerable communities, and how to mobilize the private sector against the unfair practices that stifle competition. International experts shared lessons learned around the world and discussed replicating these initiatives in Guatemala, where the government has made fighting systemic corruption a national priority.

Supporting Citizen Action for Accountable Governance

Panelists

• Cheri-Leigh Erasmus
  Co-CEO and Chief Learning and Agility Officer, Accountability Lab
• Mariana Perales
  Director, Hagámoslo Bien (Monterrey, México)
• Alexander Reina Otero
  Director, Instituto Distrital de la Participación y Acción Comunal (Bogotá, Colombia)
• Lucila Del Aguila, moderator
  Senior Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/mobilizing-latin-american-citizens-against-corruption