International Peace Institute

The President of IHAN and several members participated in two policy forums co-hosted by the International Peace Institute and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN on November 6 and 7, 2017. The Institute “was founded by a group of individuals from both within and outside of the United Nations who believed that a thoroughly independent institution, free from official constraints, could make a unique contribution to multilateral efforts to prevent and settle armed conflicts around the world.” It plays a leading role in training peacekeepers for their duty.

 November 6, 2017

At the International Peace Institute’s [IPI] policy forum Peace by Pieces? Local Mediation Initiatives and Sustainable Peace in the Central African Republic (CAR), IPI Senior Fellow Marie-Joëlle Zahar and Policy Analyst Delphine Mechoulan summarized their research in CAR. A “strategic vision” for peacebuilding was presented in partnership with Asif Khan, Chief of the UN Mediation Support Unit. The panelists’ vision is rooted in a series of 6 policy recommendations drawn from IPI’s research and a conscious effort to better address the multidimensional nature of conflict within CAR. [ The full report can be seen at https://www.ipinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1701_Peace-by-Pieces.pdf ]

Following IPI’s presentation, Dr. Roshan inquired about CAR’s capacity to address the unique needs of women & children in conflict zones. Ms. Zahar replied that although Doctors Without Borders is stationed within the refugee camps that host up to 25% of CAR’s population, there is a significant need for increased and sustained investment of human and financial capital to ensure the health of this community.

November 7, 2017

IPI’s recent Global Leader Series discussion explored how leveraging historical knowledge may foster inclusive societies and prevent future conflict. In his opening statement, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland and founder of the International Network of Historians without Borders, highlighted the crucial, yet often underreported, role women and minorities play in shaping history. Multiple examples were used to illustrate his position that while historians and their work should be used to maintain an accurate accounting of history, history should never be irresponsibly employed for judicial or political purposes.

During the panel discussion with Mr. Warren Hodge, IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations, Mr. Tuomioja spoke of his organization’s aspiration to facilitate the creation of common historical accounts. These accounts may contribute to sustainable peace in African and Baltic regions. Dr. Roshan will attend Mr. Tuomioja invited Dr. Roshan to attend a March conference in South Africa at which a common regional history for several former European colonies will be drafted.