Events at USIP

Since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the question of whether to use seized Russian assets — worth approximately $300 billion — to pay for the eventual reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine has been the subject of extended debate within the global community. On March 13, USIP and Ukrainian Minister of Justice Denys Leontiyovych Maliuska hosted a discussion on the potential utilization of confiscated Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction efforts. Speakers Lise GrandePresident and CEO, U.S Institute of Peace  Denys Leontiyovych MaliuskaMinister of Justice of Ukraine  Ambassador David Scheffer, moderatorFormer Ambassador at Large for War CrimesProfessor of Practice, Arizona State University   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/russian-asset-seizures-and-justice-ukraine  

On February 24, 2021, India and Pakistan announced a renewal of the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. On March 8, USIP hosted a conversation on the LoC ceasefire that explored findings from a new USIP report, “The 2021 India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Origins, Prospects, and Lessons Learned,” the factors that have helped keep the ceasefire in place, and what new regional dynamics could mean for its sustainability in the future. Speakers Christopher Clary Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Albany  Happymon Jacob Founder and Honorary Director, Council for Strategic and Defense Research  Asfandyar MirSenior Expert, South Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace  Tamanna Salikuddin, moderator Director, South Asia Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace   For more about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/fragile-intact-understanding-india-and-pakistans-three-year-ceasefire  

On March 1 -- ahead of International Women’s Day and on the first day of Women’s History Month -- USIP recognized and celebrated the awardee and finalists for USIP's 2023 Women Building Peace Award. The conversation explored how these four fearless women from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya and Syria are making history while working for a peaceful future. Speakers Marcia Myers Carlucci, welcoming remarksCo-Chair, USIP's Women Building Peace Council Megan Beyer, moderator Director, Office of Art in Embassies, U.S. Department of State; Co-Chair, USIP’s Women Building Peace Award Council Pétronille Vaweka Awardee, 2023 Women Building Peace Award; Senior Mediator and Coordinator, Centre Femmes Engagées pour la Paix en Afrique (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Dr. Marie-Marcelle H. Deschamps Finalist, 2023 Women Building Peace Award; Deputy Executive Director, Les Centres GHESKIO, (Haiti) Abir Haj Ibrahim Finalist, 2023 Women Building Peace Award; Co-Founder and Executive Manager, Mobaderoon (Syria)  Hamisa Zaja Finalist, 2023 Women Building Peace Award; Founder and CEO, Coast Association for Persons with Disabilities (Kenya)   For more information on this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/how-women-front-lines-forge-peace  

On February 27, USIP and the Atlantic Council hosted a discussion with former U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine and Russia analyzing the current battlefield situation, the importance of Western aid and the disastrous consequences that would result without it, and what can be done to secure Ukraine and its democracy long term. Speakers Lise Grande, opening remarks President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace Denys Sienik, opening remarksDeputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Ukraine Ambassador John HerbstSenior Director, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Ambassador Steve PiferSenior Fellow, Brooking Institute; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Ambassador John Tefft Distinguished Chair, Diplomacy and Security, RAND Corporation; Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Ambassador Marie “Masha” YovanovitchSenior Advisor, Russia and Europe Center, U.S. Institute of Peace; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Ambassador William Taylor, moderatorVice President, Russia and Europe Center, U.S. Institute of Peace; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/two-years-analyzing-war-ukraine  

On February 22, USIP hosted a conversation on what’s changed in the month since riots engulfed Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands' largest and most populous nation, as well as how U.S. and international policymakers can respond to the causes that are driving instability there.  Speakers Brian Harding, moderatorSenior Expert, Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, U.S. Institute of Peace Gordon Peake Senior Advisor, Pacific Islands, U.S. Institute of Peace Ruth Kissam Senior Advisor, Papua New Guinea, U.S. Institute of Peace Zuabe Tinning Program Manager, Papua New Guinea, U.S. Institute of Peace   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/papua-new-guinea-one-month-after-riots