Dear Deeply Readers,
Welcome to the archives of Peacebuilding Deeply. While we paused regular publication of the site on September 1, 2018, we are happy to serve as an ongoing public resource on global peace and security. We hope you’ll enjoy the reporting and analysis that was produced by our dedicated community of editors and contributors.
We continue to produce events and special projects while we explore where the on-site journalism goes next. If you’d like to reach us with feedback or ideas for collaboration you can do so at [email protected].
Simon Coveney
When women are involved in peace processes – not as an afterthought but as acknowledged experts – there is a greater chance of achieving longer-lasting peace. From Northern Ireland to Yemen, understanding and working with the local community is key, says Irish Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney.
Drawing from cases of conflict and peacebuilding around the world, we examine the factors holding back women’s participation in peace and security efforts and consider what can be done to better protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
The leaders of South Sudan’s warring parties signed a final power-sharing agreement this month, but it remains unclear whether the deal will guarantee long-term stability in the country, journalist Samuel Okiror writes for IRIN news.
Kacie Candela, PassBlue
Female participation in U.N. peacekeeping remains low, especially in military and combat roles. But more women are taking up civilian roles in peace operations, writes journalist Kacie Candela for PassBlue.
Jesse Marks Fulbright Fellow and Scoville Peace Fellow based in Amman, Jordan
Dr. Lina Kreidie Tobis Fellow at the Ethics and Morality Center, University of California
The regime wants the legitimacy that would come from internationally backed returns. Researchers Jesse Marks and Lina Kreidie warn the U.N. to heed lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Amanda Poole Associate Professor of Anthropology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer Riggan Associate Professor of International Studies, Arcadia University
The sudden outbreak of peace in the Horn of Africa means an open border and new vulnerability. Researchers Jennifer Riggan and Amanda Poole capture the concerns of Eritrean refugees.
Young people are often among the most affected by conflict. But to engage with them solely as victims or perpetrators of war obscures the vital role they play in peacebuilding, writes Ghazal Keshavarzian of Elevate Children Funders Group and Catherine Thompson of Peace and Security Funders Group.
Post-conflict integration of former combatants into national armed forces is not a new reconciliation strategy. The Syrian government, however, is doing this before the war ends, which will only prolong the conflict, according to Syria researcher Haid Haid.
Cristiano D’Orsi Research Fellow and Lecturer, SARCIL
The detente with Ethiopia has seen Eritrea slash indefinite military conscription. Researcher Cristiano D’Orsi argues that without a breakthrough on human rights, Eritreans will still flee.
For many, seeking asylum requires repeatedly recounting your story. Conflating persecution with trauma, will have a lasting impact on the mental health and recovery of entire generations who were forced to leave home and rebuild their lives.
For more than two decades, the Sri Lankan navy has barred residents displaced from the island of Iranaitheevu from returning to their homes. A group of activists have now challenged the navy’s control and have encouraged at least 100 IDPs to return to the region.
Conflict and crisis disrupt the education of more than 80 million children worldwide. But access to high school education in war zones could help diminish support for armed groups, according to a recent study by Mercy Corps.
In many Sudanese communities, men dominate negotiations and peace talks. As coordinator of the Collaborative for Peace of Sudan, it is Rasha El Fangry’s job to convince local – and male – community leaders that women have a crucial role to play in building sustainable peace.
If the United Nations is able to place Yemen’s Hodeida port under it’s control, it would show the global community that there is still place for diplomacy in a war that desperately needs a political solution, writes the Atlantic Council’s Zara Jayant.
Rabia Nusrat Regional Projects Manager for Afghanistan-Pakistan, International Alert
Medium-sized enterprises have the potential to contribute to peace and security in Afghanistan, but they need support from Kabul and the international community if they hope to address some of the drivers of conflict, writes Rabia Nusrat of International Alert.
The southern Philippine island of Mindanao is on the verge of a hard-won peace deal but civilians fear the rise of ISIS-linked extremists could spoil the prospect of stability, writes journalist Wes Bruer for IRIN news.
Shuja Nawaz Distinguished Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center
As polls open in Pakistan, there are concerns that the election will create room for unrest between rival political forces in the divided country, writes Pakistan expert Shuja Nawaz.
Somalia’s national security adviser Abdisaid Ali discusses political will, security reforms and how peacebuilding and state-building are at the heart of Somalia’s Transition Plan.
Researchers and investigators at WomanStats have created one of the most comprehensive databases on the status of women around the world, and are assessing how these data points can help explain the behavior and security of a state.
Human rights activist Gulalai Ismail’s counter-extremism initiative has reached over 10,000 young people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They key to her success, she says, is a context-specific program led by local peacebuilders.
There is no end in sight to South Sudan’s conflict, which has destroyed communities and upended the economy. Even when the bullets stop, high rates of stunting – caused by persistent food shortages – will make it difficult for the country to recover.
Kelsey Lilley Associate Director, Atlantic Council’s Africa Center
For decades, Djibouti has benefited economically from the standoff between Ethiopia and Eritrea. But as the two countries move to normalize ties, financial losses may push Djibouti to disrupt the peace, writes Kelsey Lilley of the Atlantic Council.
The civil war in Lebanon ended 28 years ago, but the state remains largely divided – even when it comes to how to remember the past. One Lebanese architect is trying to change that, but the road to remembrance has been challenging.
Natalie Sikorski
Experts and practitioners from around the world met in Beirut to weigh in on the growing acceptance of unarmed civilian protection methods in peacebuilding efforts.
Steven Heydemann Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy
Syria’s post-conflict landscape poses challenges for policymakers and development practitioners. But to date neither has addressed its policy implications or how Syria’s experience challenges assumptions on reconstruction, writes foreign policy expert Steven Heydemann.
Elizabeth (Liz) Hume Senior Director for Programs and Strategy
By threatening to cut aid to Central America, the United States may inadvertently increase the drivers of conflict in this region and consequently see an uptick in the flow of migrants, writes Liz Hume of the Alliance for Peacebuilding.
Harriet Lamb CEO of Peacebuilding Charity International Alert
New findings from Mali underline the failure of hard security approaches to conflict-resolution. The international community must build trust between civilians and security forces if it hopes to reduce violent extremism, writes Harriet Lamb, CEO of International Alert.
Cedric de Coning Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
An increasing number of analysts argue it is time for U.N. peacekeeping to focus on more limited protection missions, but it may be a mistake to say whether they should or should not engage in peacebuilding tasks, writes Cedric de Coning for the Global Observatory.
Violations of South Sudan’s latest ceasefire have spurred concerns that continued fighting will increase food scarcity in the country. Only lasting peace can ameliorate the situation, writes journalist Stefanie Glinski for IRIN news.
Changes in family structures and lengthening life expectancies are leading the world towards a care crisis, the International Labour Organization has warned. And it’s women who will lose out the most.
The 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and FARC fighters guaranteed the group access to public healthcare. Thousands of wounded fighters, however, are losing faith in the agreement as they struggle to access Colombia’s strained public health system.
As Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) becomes an increasingly accepted practice within the mainstream peacebuilding community, our editors speak with Tiffany Easthom of Nonviolent Peaceforce about the overlap between UCP and peacebuilding.
Including civil society in international and local counter-terrorism efforts has proven to be a successful strategy for preventing violent extremism, write Lisa Oriot-Scappaticci and Lilla Schumicky-Logan of the Global Community and Resilience Fund.
The U.S. can more effectively help prevent violent conflicts around the world by conducting more routine and inclusive conflict assessments that are connected to policy and programming decisions, writes researcher Lawrence Woocher.
Australia must protect witnesses and remain transparent while it investigates members of its elite special forces for allegedly committing crimes against civilians in Afghanistan, writes Human Rights Watch senior researcher Patricia Gossman.
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