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Author: Nina Wilén, Paul D. Williams

  • What Are the International Military Options for the Sahel?

    April 12, 2022by Nina Wilén and Paul D. Williams

    The complex, and not always coordinated, ecosystem of military operations across the Sahel has been aptly labeled a security traffic jam. Why are external forces in the Sahel? Can they help resolve any of the region’s crises? And, if so, what configuration of external forces makes the most sense?

    Analysismali, peacekeeping, sahel
  • UN Security Council to Discuss Climate-Related Conflict, But What Role Should It Play?

    September 21, 2021by Cedric de Coning, Elisabeth Lio Rosvold, Kheira Tarif and Kyungmee Kim

    Climate- and conflict-affected countries are trapped in a negative spiral where climate change undermines the ability to cope with conflict, and conflict undermines the resilience to cope with climate change.

    Analysisclimate-change, security-council
  • Should the UN Deploy a Peacekeeping Operation in Afghanistan? Wrong Question.

    September 3, 2021by Adam Day

    Rather than start with the supply side (what the UN can offer) the initial question should start with the demand side (what does Afghanistan need).

    Analysisafghanistan, peacekeeping
  • Addressing Humanitarian and Security Needs in Afghanistan

    September 2, 2021by David Cortright and George A. Lopez

    With the end of the withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, two major issues confront US policy. First is how to meet mounting humanitarian needs and save the social development programs that have benefited Afghan women—one of the few positive outcomes of the intervention. The second is how to guard against Afghanistan becoming a haven for […]

    Analysisafghanistan, humanitarian, sanctions
  • A Pacific Perspective on Climate Security Risks and the UN Security Council 

    September 9, 2019by Anna Maria Link, adelphi

    As the debate over climate-related security risks grows, many Pacific Island states are calling for more action by the international community to better address the links between climate change and global security. Baron Waqa, who was President of Nauru at the time of this interview, highlighted some of these calls while speaking to Anna Maria Link of adelphi in April; he also outlined the challenges in getting the climate-security issue on the UN’s agenda.

    Interviewsclimate-change, climatepeacesecurity
  • Rebel Networks’ Deep Roots Cause Concerns for Côte d’Ivoire Transition

    October 12, 2017by Philip Martin, Giulia Piccolino, and Jeremy Speight

    Ivory Coast is three months out from the final departure of its UN peacekeeping mission (UNOCI), but recent mutinies and unrest among former rebels within the military raise concerns about long-term stability. One of the central problems in Côte d’Ivoire’s war-to-peace transition has been the role of the former rebel commanders of the Forces Armées de Forces Nouvelles (FAFN). Many of these commanders developed deep ties in the communities that they governed during the armed conflict between 2002 and 2011, and the persistence of these wartime networks in Côte d’Ivoire continues to hamstring peacebuilding efforts and security sector reform (SSR).

    Analysisgovernance, rebel-groups
  • Fighting Violence Against Women in Politics: the Limits of Legal Reform

    October 5, 2017by Saskia Brechenmacher

    Even as more and more women around the world run for office, claiming their right to equal participation (as enshrined in the United Nations CEDAW convention), efforts to promote women’s political leadership have rarely been coupled with mechanisms to ensure their security and well-being in the public sphere.

    Analysispolitical-parity, sexual-violence, women-peace-and-security
  • “No” Vote on Colombia Peace Deal Must Not End Peace Process

    October 3, 2016by Thania Paffenholz

    It is now crucial for Colombia to learn from other experiences what can be done to save the peace process.

    Analysisamericas, peace-processes
  • From Environmental Degradation Comes Art: Q&A with Fabrice Monteiro

    October 28, 2015by Jill Stoddard

    Inspired by an idea to educate children, Fabrice Monteiro teamed up with fashion designer Doulsy to create “The Prophecy,” a tale of nine spirits that warn of the perils of neglecting the environment.

    Interviewsenvironment
  • Thomas Gass: Heads of State Should Enact Common Vision in Sustainable Development Goals

    September 30, 2015by Jimena Leiva Roesch

    Thomas Gass, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, discusses the new “social contract” forged by the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Interviewsdevelopment, united-nations
  • Next →

This week

  • How Negotiations on Contingent-Owned Equipment Can Help “Green” UN Peacekeeping

    January 20, 2023by Emmanuelle Cousin and Daniel Forti 

    The UN General Assembly’s COE Working Group has a fork-in-the-road opportunity to advance UN Peacekeeping’s environmental goals.

    Analysisclimate-change, peacekeeping
  • How Useful Are the UN’s Broad Protection of Civilian Mandates?

    January 18, 2023by Alexander Gilder

    The UN should consider both the successes of the whole-of-mission approach and the pitfalls of its ever-burgeoning understanding of PoC.

    Analysispeacekeeping, protection-of-civilians

Trending

  • Investing in People and Enhancing Resilience for Sustaining Peace with Adaptive Peacebuilding

    January 17, 2023by Cedric de Coning, Rui Saraiva and Ako Muto

    Context-specific approaches to peacebuilding that empower local agency are key to the self-sustainability of peace processes.

    Analysispeacebuilding, sustaining-peace
  • The Multilateralism Index: Measuring Transformation in a Time of Crisis and Uncertainty

    January 9, 2023by Adam Lupel

    A better understanding is needed of where the multilateral system is working, where it is not, and where it is headed.

    Analysismultilateralism
  • Does the UN Need a More Coherent Approach Toward “De Facto” Authorities?

    January 6, 2023by Damian Lilly

    As a result of shifting dynamics in certain conflicts, as well as recent coups, the UN is having to engage with de facto authorities in a growing number of country contexts.

    Analysisunited-nations
  • The Nitty Gritty of Climate Policy: Taking Stock of COP27, Looking Ahead to COP28

    January 5, 2023by Olivia Fielding, Michael Franczak, Masooma Rahmaty, Aparajita Rao, Jimena Leiva Roesch, Michael Weisberg

    The agreement to establish a fund for loss and damage was a historic win for developing countries, but progress on mitigation stalled at COP27.

    Analysisclimate2022, climate-change
  • Milestone in the Security Council: What the New Humanitarian “Carve-out” Means for UN Sanctions Regimes

    December 16, 2022by Naureen Chowdhury Fink and Agathe Sarfati 

    Last week,  the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2664, a cross-cutting humanitarian carve-out for all UN sanctions regimes–including the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida regime–to safeguard the timely and effective conduct of humanitarian activities.

    Analysishumanitarian, security-council, terrorism
  • 2022 Editor’s Choice: Global Observatory Must Reads

    December 15, 2022by the Global Observatory

    The editors of the Global Observatory have compiled some of 2022’s notable and most-read articles that speak to both global events and new thinking on peace and security, United Nations (UN) peacekeeping, gender and security, and the climate crisis.

    Further Reading
  • Year in Review: Top International Peace Institute Reports of 2022

    December 15, 2022by the Global Observatory

    The International Peace Institute’s 10 most-read reports of 2022.

    Further Reading
  • Disinformation Is a Growing Threat for UN Peacekeepers

    December 14, 2022by Albert Trithart

    UN missions will need to address the root causes of misinformation and disinformation by proactively reshaping narratives about the UN.

    Analysispeacekeeping
  • In a Worsening DRC, How Can the Security Council Keep Focus on Protection of Civilians?

    December 13, 2022by Daniel Levine-Spound and Wendy MacClinchy

    MONUSCO’s mandate renewal is an opportunity for the UNSC to prove its relevance as a protection actor in the DRC.

    Analysispeacekeeping, protection-of-civilians
  • The East African Community Steps into the Crisis in the DRC. Will It Help?

    December 12, 2022by Jenna Russo

    While the current crisis is unlikely to be resolved without military force, any hope for success requires that operations remain closely tied to a political process, and that neighboring countries remain accountable to support the security and sovereignty of the DRC.

    Analysisafrica, conflict
  • New Avenues for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict: Addressing Weapons

    December 9, 2022by Hana Salama

    Thus far, few UN frameworks, policies, or guidance documents on conflict-related sexual violence mention arms control and disarmament measures in the context of prevention.

    Analysisconflict, sexual-violence, women-peace-and-security
  • The Humanitarian Exception in the New UNSC Sanctions Regime: Small Steps Toward Bigger Changes

    December 5, 2022by Agathe Sarfati

    The fact that a standing humanitarian exemption was added from the outset in the Haiti sanctions regime signals a shift within the UNSC toward recognizing the need to anticipate and mitigate the adverse impacts of sanctions on humanitarian action.

    Analysishumanitarian, security-council
  • Legal Avenues to Fight Climate Change

    November 18, 2022by Julia Almeida Nobre

    Climate change litigation is on the rise. More legal clarity will bring more action.

    Analysisclimate2022
  • The Many, Varied Violences Behind the Central American Exodus

    November 15, 2022by Nathaniel Morris and Gema Kloppe-Santamaría

    We need to fully recognize the multifaceted character of the “violences” impacting Central American countries and the political, economic, and social precursors that drive them.

    Analysisamericas, migration
  • Russia, NATO, and International Organizations

    May 23, 2022by Kseniya Oksamytna

    As Finland and Sweden begin the process of applying for NATO membership, misleading narratives about the role of NATO’s so-called eastward expansion in “provoking” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue to hold sway.

    Analysisconflict, eastern-europe
  • The Benefits, Challenges, and Limitations of Criminalizing Ecocide

    March 30, 2022by Rachel Killean

    The campaign to introduce a new international crime of “ecocide” at the International Criminal Court is long-standing but has received increased support over the last couple of years.

    Analysisenvironment
  • Putin’s “Peacekeepers”

    February 23, 2022by Paul D. Williams

    Putin has ordered Russian soldiers to conduct what he called “peacekeeping operations” in Donetsk and Luhansk, a clear violation of international law and a perversion of the important international concept of peacekeeping.

    Analysisconflict, europe
  • ECOWAS Sanctions Against Mali Necessary, but May Be Counter-Productive

    February 2, 2022by Festus Kofi Aubyn

    The new sanctions were triggered by months of growing tensions between ECOWAS and the military-dominated transitional government over the timetable for Mali’s return to civilian rule after two successful coups d’état.

    Analysisafrica, sanctions
  • New Name, but Little Sign of Change: The Revised Agreement on the African Union Mission in Somalia

    January 27, 2022by Colin Robinson

    The AU mission’s success relies on the handover of military responsibilities to an effective Somali replacement. But the Somali National Army remains as politicized and clan-divided as it has ever been.

    Analysisafrica, african-union, peacekeeping
  • Ugandan and Congolese Troops Are Conducting Joint Operations: What Could that Mean for MONUSCO?

    December 20, 2021by Daniel Levine-Spound

    The joint operations against the Allied Democratic Forces in the Beni territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo raise critical legal, operational, and reputational challenges for MONUSCO.

    Analysisafrica, peacekeeping

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About the Global Observatory

The Global Observatory provides timely analysis on peace and security issues by experts, journalists, and policymakers. It is published by the International Peace Institute. The views expressed here represent those of the contributors and not IPI.

About the International Peace Institute

The International Peace Institute is an independent, international think tank located in New York and Manama, dedicated to the settlement and prevention of armed conflict.

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