Africa Up Close

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

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MONDAY, September 9, 2013
Standing Up for the Rule of Law in an Age of Terror
Hosted by: Georgetown Law
Location: Georgetown Law, Gewirz Student Center, 12th floor
600 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Time: 9:30am – 11:15am
Summary: Professor Neal Katyal will speak live from The Hague at a TEDxHagueAcademy event on September 9 as part of the centennial anniversary of the Peace Palace, the home of the International Court of Justice. Katyal, an expert in constitutional, national security, criminal and military law, will discuss how he brought the case of Salim Hamdan — a fourth-grade educated Yemeni who was Bin Laden’s driver — against the president of the United States. Katyal won Hamdan’s case in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006, making the Geneva Conventions applicable to the War on Terror.
For more information, please visit: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/press-releases/professor-neal-katyal-tedx.cfm

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TUESDAY, September 10, 2013
Water Security and Conflict Prevention Summit
Hosted by: U.S. Institute of Peace
Location: United States Institute of Peace
2301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Time: 8:30am – 2:00pm
Summary: Co-hosted by the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), and the U.S. Water Partnership (USWP), this summit will bring attention to the growing concerns in water security and the risks for increased conflict, and will begin the process to seek conflict-sensitive and preventive solutions that are of strategic and economic interest to all parties involved.
For more information, please visit: http://www.usip.org/events/water-security-and-conflict-prevention-summit

Integrated Peacebuilding: Innovative Approaches to Transforming Conflict
Hosted by: The Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum
Location: Kenney Auditorium, Johns Hopkins University SAIS
1740 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington D.C. 20036
Time: 9:30am – 11:00am
Summary: Integrated Peacebuilding, recently published by Westview Press (2013), addresses the importance of weaving peacebuilding methods into diverse sectors including development, humanitarian assistance, gender, business, media, health, and the environment  Incorporating peacebuilding approaches into these areas is critical for transforming today’s protracted conflicts into tomorrow’s sustainable peace. The presenters will discuss the growing trend of integrating peacebuilding into international humanitarian relief, development, and related sectors, by donors and implementing partners and explore what this means for the future of the field. In particular, they will highlight what works, what the key ethical and practical challenges are and identify areas where more research is needed.
For more information, please visit: http://salsa.sfcg.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=422673

A Dialogue: Integrated Multi-sector Approaches – What Works and What’s Next?
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: 6^th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Summary: Development practitioners – especially those focusing on integrated programing emphasizing the connections between population, health, and the environment – need data to support their work. After five years of implementing a holistic development approach that combined family planning, health, livelihood opportunities, and conservation efforts, the USAID-funded BALANCED Project will offer insights drawn from its accomplishments and lessons learned, as well as from experiences with scaling up integrated approaches in Africa and Asia. A short documentary on BALANCED’s efforts to improve women’s lives in rural Tanzania will be screened, followed by an interactive discussion designed to inform future development work. Reception to follow.
For more information, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/dialogue-integrated-multi-sector-approaches-%E2%80%93-what-works-and-what%E2%80%99s-next

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
Harvesting Peace: Food Security, Conflict, and Cooperation (Report Launch)
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Summary: Since 2008, when rapid increases in the prices for major grains helped to trigger outbreaks of civil unrest in more than 40 countries, scholars and policymakers have paid increased attention to the potential influence of global food prices on social and political instability. Compelling and provocative headlines have suggested that there is a direct relationship between food insecurity and conflict. However, we know from a conflict perspective that the story is always more complicated than those claims often imply. How does conflict affect food insecurity? How does food insecurity contribute to conflict? And how can development organizations effectively address both? Harvesting Peace: Food Security, Conflict, and Cooperation – the latest edition of ECSP Report – explores these complex linkages, drawing insights from scholarly work to help inform more effective programming for practitioners.
For more information, please visit:  http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/harvesting-peace-food-security-conflict-and-cooperation-report-launch

Subcommittee Hearing: The Troubling Path Ahead for U.S.-Zimbabwe Relations
Hosted by: House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Location: 2172 House Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Time: 12:00pm
Summary:
Panel I
Shannon Smith, Ph.D.
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Mr. Todd Amani
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development

Panel II
Mr. Arthur Gwagwa
International Advocacy Coordinator
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
For more information, please visit:  http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-hearing-troubling-path-ahead-us-zimbabwe-relations

The Chinese, the Taiwanese, “Fong Kong,” and Labor in South Africa
Hosted by: Sino-Africa DC
Location: First Floor Conference Room – Ralphe J. Bunche International Affairs Center
2218 6th St NW, Washington, D.C., DC 20059
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Summary: Dr. Park presents a working paper regarding the heavy penetration of Chinese textiles, disparagingly referred to as “fong kong” or fake, cheap, substandard goods, into the South Africa market. Often described in terms such as a “deluge,” “flood,” “textile tsunami,” etc. Park attempts to explore a more complicated story, beyond Chinese textile producers and South African consumers. Taiwanese factory owners, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, and more actors are all involved in this multifaceted-process. The event will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
For more information, please visit:  http://sadclecture0913.eventbrite.com/

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
Human Rights Coffee Hour
Hosted by: AU Washington College of Law
Location: AU Washington College of Law, 6^th Floor, International Student Lounge
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Summary: Join students, faculty, and staff interested and involved in human rights work in the United States and abroad for some coffee, conversation, and networking. This is the first of regular coffee hours that will be held through the end of the semester for the entire AU community. Each coffee hour will start with announcements for the community, including upcoming events, internship opportunities, cool human rights-oriented activities downtown. We will also select suggested topics for each coffee hour. During the first coffee hour, the suggested topic is Syria, especially in light of the recent events. Everyone is welcome! Bring your friends!
For more information, please visit:  http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/events/upcoming/

Nollywood Summit, Washington, DC 2013
Hosted by: Nollywood Film Critics USA
Location: Holiday Inn
2101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007
Time: 5:00pm
Summary: The Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards, also known as The African Oscars, is an accolade bestowed by the Nollywood Film Critics USA the official movie review organization for Nollywood and African films to recognize excellence of professionals in the African film industry and with honorary awards to honor humanitarians, dignitaries and government official who have positively impacted the lives of citizens.
For more information, please visit: http://www.africanoscar.com/ProgramAfricanOscars.aspx

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013
African Oscars– NAFCA 2013
Hosted by: Nollywood Film Critics USA
Location: The Warner Theatre
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20004
Time: 4:00pm-10:00pm
Summary: The Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards, also known as The African Oscars, is an accolade bestowed by the Nollywood Film Critics USA the official movie review organization for Nollywood and African films to recognize excellence of professionals in the African film industry and with honorary awards to honor humanitarians, dignitaries and government official who have positively impacted the lives of citizens.
For more information, please visit: http://www.africanoscar.com/ProgramAfricanOscars.aspx