The Other Side of Gender:
Masculinity Issues in Violent Conflict
Friday, January 15, 2010, 12:00pm-1:30pm
The study of gender is often assumed to be about women. Increasingly, however, researchers and development practitioners are demonstrating the importance of addressing the other side of gender–men and issues of masculinity–particularly when it comes to violent conflict. The extreme sexual violence used as a weapon of war in the DRC has brought this gendered lens to the forefront. We realize that any proposed solutions to the problem are incomplete without understanding the underlying predicaments and motivations of men and boys, as well as the often complex relationships between men and women in these societies.
This panel is sponsored by USIP’s Gender and Peacebuilding Initiative and will feature the following speakers:
Pia Peeters
Sr. Social Development SpecialistAfrica Region, Conflict and Social Develpment UnitThe World BankMarc SommersJennings Randolph Senior FellowUnited States Institute of PeaceMaria CorreiaProgram ManagerFragile States, Conflict and Social Development Unit, Africa RegionThe World BankKathleen Kuehnast, ModeratorGender Adviser, Gender and Peacebuilding InitiativeUnited States Institute of Peace
Natural Resources: Plunder or Peace
January 12, 2010, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Location:
U.S. Institute of Peace
2nd floor
1200 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Directions
Billions of dollars from illegal logging in South East Asia and from the illicit sale of blood minerals in Africa fuel wars and adversely impact millions every year, as violent competition for strategic resources contributes to civil unrest in many parts of the world. Even though the mismanagement of natural resources lies at the heart of many of these conflicts, the sustainable and equitable use of petroleum, mineral and agricultural resources could help prevent conflict and promote lasting peace. The violence and consequent underdevelopment are facilitated by a complex political-economy that rewards a few and impoverishes the vast majority of the citizens in these countries. Reversing this trend will require sustained efforts to improve resource management and dismantle illicit political and commercial relationships.
This event will examine the underpinnings of resource management in resource rich, conflict-prone states and explore options for strategies that could break the cycle of violence and lay the foundation for sustainable economic development.
Paul Collier will use findings from his upcoming book “The Plundered Planet: Why We Must–and How We Can–Manage Nature for Global Prosperity” to analyze challenges facing these countries and outline strategies for domestic and international actors. Nancy Birdsall, president of the Center for Global Development, will respond to Collier’s remarks and provide a practitioner’s perspective based on examples from recent research.
This event builds on USIP’s ongoing efforts to analyze the conflict-development nexus and investigate innovative strategies for lasting peace and sustainable development in resource-rich developing countries.
Hosted by USIP’s Center for Sustainable Economies and Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program, this event will feature the following speakers:
Paul Collier
Director, Centre of African Economies, Oxford UniversityNancy Birdsall
President, Center for Global DevelopmentRaymond Gilpin, Moderator
Director, Center for Sustainable Economies, U.S. Institute of Peace
Please contact Katie Gresham at kgresham@usip.org with any general questions about this event.
Media
The media are asked to contact Lauren Sucher at lsucher@usip.org or Allison Sturma at asturma@usip.org.
