PAST EVENT
Monday, November 24, 2008
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC
The growing number and complexity of emergency situations in the world today places increasing pressure on the humanitarian community to respond effectively. On November 24, Brookings will host Pierre Krähenbühl, director of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross, for a discussion on the future of humanitarianism. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Benjamin Wittes, November 21, 2008, The Washington Post
President-elect Obama has reiterated his campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay. As Benjamin Wittes writes, the incoming administration must create a systematic and rigorous review of the detainee population, whose handling will require wrenching choices with no easy answers. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, October 30, 2008, The Irish Times
Ten years after the UN defined legal rights for them, internally displaced people - refugees in their own countries - remain a neglected global responsibility. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alex Mundt and Elizabeth Ferris, October 28, 2008, Enhancing Protection of Civilians in Protracted Conflicts, ARC/Austcare Symposium
Though there are important similarities in the impact of prolonged displacement on the lives of IDPs and refugees, there are also significant differences in their situations -- particularly when it comes to solutions. While return is often the desired solution for both IDPs and political actors, Alex Mundt and Elizabeth Ferris argue that local integration and return should not be seen as mutually exclusive alternatives, as they can encourage IDPs to build new lives elsewhere without having to give up the possibility of an eventual return. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, October 27, 2008, United Nations General Assembly, Third Commitee
Despite important achievements, people continue to be displaced and their rights continue to be violated. Millions of internally displaced persons continue to languish in protracted situations. Humanitarian access in particular to persons displaced during armed conflicts is often not possible. While we should indeed be proud of the improvements since the adoption of the Guiding Principles, much remains to be done. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ted Piccone, October 2008, The Brookings Institution
Ted Piccone outlines several versions of the League of Democracies concept that has reemerged during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. Though it finds support in both conservative and liberal circles, Piccone argues that the current framework will not succeed in today’s political environment. However, Piccone believes democracy promotion should remain a top priority for the next administration, and he offers recommendations for strengthening multilateral approaches. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Beijing, China
On October 22, Ted Piccone, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of Foreign Policy at Brookings discussed issues of global governance, geopolitics, democratization of foreign policy and human rights at the Brookings-Tsinghua Center in Beijing. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
October 2008, The Brookings Institution
Currently an estimated 26 million men, women and children have been displaced within their countries' borders because of conflict, with even larger numbers displaced by natural disasters and development projects. While this is a global phenomenon, responsibility rests with national governments. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, October 16, 2008, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement
Forced displacement is not just a passing event in people's lives. It is a devastating transformation that shatters lives. In order to protect the rights of the displaced, through all phases of displacement, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were drafted and adopted by the United Nations. Today, ten years later, they are as relevant as ever in protecting those displaced by conflict, natural disasters and development projects. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Carlos Pascual, October 16, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Sixty years ago the international community responded to the needs of those crossing national borders because of persecution and conflict by adopting a convention on refugees and creating a UN refugee agency; however, the fate of those displaced within their countries' borders was largely ignored. In an effort to address this gap in the international humanitarian system, the Brookings Project on Internal Displacement took on the task of developing basic standards for the treatment of internally displaced persons. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, October 13, 2008
to
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
On October 13-14, The Brookings Institution in partnership with The Asia Foundation and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, brought together 50 key leaders from Southeast Asia, the broader Muslim world, and the United States for open and frank dialogue directed at developing actionable programs for government, civil society, and the private sector. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, October 10, 2008, United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee Group on Climate Change
Most causes of displacement triggered by climate change, such as flooding, hurricanes, desertification or even the "sinking" of stretches of land, are not new. However, their frequency and magnitude are likely to increase. The challenge is to better analyze these causes of displacement, to identify the areas where the effects of climate change are most likely to occur and to examine the character of forced displacement and other population movemetns they could trigger. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
October 2008, The Brookings Institution
The importance of engaging directly with populations affected by poverty, conflict and disaster is a common theme in the literature on humanitarian aid, development and peacebuilding. However, despite the many documented benefits, consultation with and participation by affected populations -- including IDPs -- remains limited. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris, October 02, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Provincial elections are an important step toward national reconciliation in Iraq, but steps must be taken to ensure that the displaced— both refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)— are able to participate. Despite the passage of the provincial elections law, there are no provisions for Iraqis living outside the country to vote, meaning that close to 10% of Iraq's populatioin will be disenfranchised, with serious consequences for the legitimacy of the elections. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Justin Vaisse, October 2008, La Chronique d'Amnesty International
Justin Vaisse discusses how Obama and McCain approach human rights issues, from capital punishment to Guantanamo and torture. (French)
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