Weekly Events for June 16 - June 20

Continue reading for some of the events next week in D.C. concerning Africa.

Tuesday, June 17th   Religious Violence in sub-Saharan Africa and the Future of the Secular State

Hosted by: The Wilson Center

Location Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC

Time: 10am-11:30am

Summary: In recent years, Africa has seen an alarming rise in religious extremist groups, from Boko Haram in Nigeria to opposing groups Anti-Balaka and Seleka in the Central African Republic to al-Shebaab in Kenya and Somalia. While both latent and blatant religious tensions have been present in several African societies, the violent tactics that are being adopted by these groups threaten stability in the country and contribute to ongoing conflict. This discussion will look at the main forms of religion-based violence in all regions of sub-Saharan Africa, specifically from Christianity and Islam; and then prospectively reflect on how they are reshaping the relationships between Christians and Muslims.  Panelists will then investigate the different ways in which the "secular" state is responding to religious violence and consider the implications for US foreign policy.

For More Information Please Visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/religious-violence-sub-saharan-africa-and-the-future-the-secular-state-0

The Future of U.N. Peacekeeping: A Conversation with Hervé Ladsous

Hosted by: Brookings Institute

Location: Falk Auditorium The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave., N.W

Time: 2pm-3:30pm

Summary: Since 1948, United Nations peacekeepers have worked to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. Today, the system is under more pressure than ever as its missions respond to crises around the globe while effectively managing constraints on capacity and additional responsibilities. Peacekeepers are increasingly called upon to protect civilians in the midst of conflict, assist in political processes and support the return of displaced persons. On June 17, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement will host a discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the United Nations peacekeeping system. Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, will give an address on his experience as the head of U.N. Peacekeeping and the efforts of his department to maintain international peace and security, particularly in response to the current crises in Mali and the Central African Republic

For More Information Please Visit: http://www.brookings.edu/events/2014/06/17-future-un-peacekeeping-herve-ladsous

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Wednesday, June 18thAdvancing Policy and Programs on Global Women's Issues

Hosted by: Center for Strategic and International Studies

Location: 1616 Rhode Island Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20036

Time: 10:30am – 12pm

Summary: The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, Catherine Russell, will provide a keynote address about her vision for the State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues and U.S. government commitments and actions on preventing gender-based violence and promoting economic empowerment for women.  This will be followed by a roundtable conversation, moderated by Janet Fleischman, senior associate with the CSIS Global Health Policy Center, featuring Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, and Keith Hansen, Global Practices Vice President at the World Bank Group.  The panel will focus on how key international actors are working to improve the health and empowerment of women and girls, and the opportunities and challenges they face.

For More Information Please Visit: http://csis.org/event/advancing-policy-and-programs-global-womens-issues

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Thursday, June 19thGlobal Innovators: Women Leading Change Around the World

Hosted by: United States Institute of Peace

Location: 2301 Constitution Ave NW

Summary: The U.S. Institute of Peace in partnership with the Vital Voices Global Partnership and the Bernstein Family Foundation will host a panel event featuring the 2014 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards Honorees on Thursday, June 19th from 9:00 am to 11:00am.  These annual awards honor women leaders who are breaking barriers and building innovative solutions to achieve economic, social and political change around the world.

For More Information Please Visit: http://www.usip.org/events/global-innovators-women-leading-change-around-the-world

Global Oil Prices and Local Food Prices: Evidence from East Africa

Hosted by: Center for Global Development

Location: 2055 L St NW - Fifth Floor Washington, DC 20036

Time: 12pm-1:30pm

Summary:  It is widely believed that oil prices impact food prices in developing countries. Yet evidence on this relationship is scarce. Using maize and petrol price data from east Africa we show that global oil prices do affect food prices, but primarily through transport costs, rather than through biofuel or production cost channels. For inland markets, world oil prices have larger effects on local maize prices than do world maize prices. Furthermore, oil price shocks transmit much more rapidly than maize price shocks, suggesting that policies to assist food insecure households during correlated commodity price spikes should consider transport cost effects.

For More Information Please Visit: http://www.cgdev.org/event/global-oil-prices-and-local-food-prices-evidence-east-africa

How to Bring a Dictator to Justice: The Hissen Habré Trial

Hosted by: National Endowment for Democracy

Location: 1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004

Time: 3pm-4:30pm

Summary: From 1982 to 1990, Chad witnessed thousands of political killings and systematic torture under the regime of its former president, Hissen Habré. The Extraordinary African Chambers has accused the exiled former dictator, now based in Senegal, of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. Twenty-four years after the end of his rule, litigation against Habré has finally gained critical momentum in Dakar. As a member of the international team of lawyers prosecuting the case, Delphine Djiraibe is well-placed to tell the story of how Habré was brought to trial and to explore the potential impact on transitional justice in Chad. In her presentation, she will reflect on the legal process thus far, discuss where the trial stands today, and consider next steps in Senegal and beyond. Her presentation will also examine valuable examples of alternative justice mechanisms through which victims of human rights abuses may hold their perpetrators accountable. Her presentation will be followed by comments by Dave Peterson

For More Information Please Visit: http://www.ned.org/events/how-to-bring-a-dictator-to-justice-the-hissen-habr%C3%A9-trial