Saferworld: China & Conflict-Affected States

March 7, 2012

On Tuesday March 6, 3P hosted Robert Parker and Larry Attree from Saferworld, along with Chin-Hao Huang from the University of Southern California and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Click here for a the event announcement

(L to R): Amanda Jantzi-Robinson, 3P Program Assistant; Rob Parker, Saferworld;
Larry Attree, Saferworld, John Filson, 3P Program Manager

Roundtable Discussion
Mr. Attree, Mr. Parker and Mr. Huang presented during a roundtable discussion at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, discussing the implications for peace and stability of China's increasing engagement in conflict-affected states.  This discussion was moderated by 3P Director Lisa Schirch and hosted by the Wilson Center's Steve McDonald, Consulting Director of the Africa Program and the Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity.

Click on the pictures to the left to view the brief or report by Saferworld

Mr. Attree and Mr. Parker presented a report completed by Saferworld which is based upon research completed in four conflict-affected states: Sri Lanka, Nepal, Sudan and South Sudan.  Mr. Huang presented on his area of expertise: Chinese foreign and security policy, conventional arms control, peacekeeping operations and multilateral security institutions with regards China, Asia and Africa. 

In all four countries described in the Saferworld report, China has significantly increased its engagement in the last five years; it is now a major investor and has significant influence over reconstruction and development in these regions.  China itself is going through a period of policy development and adaptation as it engages more on issues of peace and conflict. China's new-found influence and the and the responsibilities that come with it provides a strategic opportunity for the West to engage with China.

 Public Panel Discussion

The afternoon event was hosted by 3P Human Security, Alliance for Peacebuilding and SAIS.  Mr. Attree, Mr. Parker, Mr. Huang were joined by a  respondent from USAID's Office of Conflict Management & Mitigation, Joseph Hewitt.  Lisa Schirch, Director of 3P moderated this event.

Panel presentation at SAIS on China and conflict-affected states
(L to R): Lisa Schirch, Director 3P; Rob Parker, Saferworld; Larry Attree, Saferworld;
Chin-Hao Huang, USC & SIPRI; Joseph Hewitt, USAID

Mr. Attree and Mr. Parker presented Saferworld research (see reports above) highlighting the implications for peace and stability of China's growing diplomatic, military, economic and aid engagement in conflict-affected states.  Mr Huang discussed his expertise on Chinese foreign and security policy and Mr. Hewitt offered his comments on what it means for the U.S approach in conflict-affected states and with China.

Alliance for Peacebuilding Fall Gathering

Dec 7, 2011

3P organized two policy events for the Fall Gathering of members of the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP), the leading U.S.-based network of peacebuilding institutions and practitioners working worldwide:

Conflict Prevention Capacities in the U.S. Government:

The first was a panel presentation by Gustavo Delgado and Tod Wilson of the State Department's new Conflict and Stabilization Operations(CSO) Bureau and Mary Stata, the Coordinator of the Prevention and Protection Working Group about the new structures the government is putting in place to improve its overall capacity to prevent violent conflict and mass atrocities. The State Department officials described the vision and creation of the CSO Bureau, and Ms. Stata informed AfP members about the new inter-agency Atrocities Prevention Board, as well as updates on key Congressional budget accounts that provides the funds for conflict prevention activities. 

 Material Support Regulations that Restrict Critical Peacebuilding:

The second event was a participatory discussion of U.S. "material support" to terrorism regulations that have placed a chilling effect on important track II peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian relief activities around the world. AfP members heard from Kay Guinane of the Charity and SecurityNetwork (CSN) and Sharon Bradford Franklin of The Constitution Project about the latest discussions with the State Department, Treasury, and Justice Dept. exploring various potential legal mechanisms that would allow critical peacebuilding activities to resume without the fear of being prosecuted for material support

Forum on US Leadership After UNESCO

November 17, 2011

After UNESCO: Implications for U.S. Leadership

3P's Israeli-Palestinian Congressional Forum organized a November 17 briefing for 40 Congressional staff from both Republican and Democrat offices.  The forum discussed the October 31 UNESCO vote to grant the Palestinian PLO full membership.

This historic vote has led to a legislatively mandated cut-off of U.S. funding to UNESCO.  Possible future non-payments of U.S. financial contributions to other UN entities that admit Palestine as a member include agencies that represent important U.S. national interests.  Agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called into question the strategy of linking U.S. policy toward the PLO and its funding of the UN. 

Click here to read the report After UNESCO: Implications for U.S. Leadership

(From left to right): Nizar Farsakh, General Director, PLO General Delegation to the U.S.; Roee Ruttenberg, Independent Tel Aviv-based Israeli-American journalist; Amb. Mark P. Lagon, Former U.S. Amb. at Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Dept. of State, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs; Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, Moderator, Center for Conflict Management; Amb. Nancy Soderberg, Former Deputy Asst. Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs; Jeffrey Kushan, Former Alternate Representative to the UN, Intellectual Property/Patents expert, Sidley Austin LLP.