Middle East and North Africa
Syria: a welcome pause in Washington
Welcome news, apparently, in Obama's announcement today to postpone his decision about how to respond to the chemical attack in Damascus. Because there is no sense in firing a barrage of missiles as a response to the use of chemicals. Perhaps Obama's reason was his not wanting to be in Russia next week during or just after a US-led attack on Russia's ally. Perhaps he was given pause by the UK Commons vote on Friday. Or perhaps he is not so stupid after all, and has listened to wise counsel.
Syria: the pace quickens - but towards what?
The prospect of military action against the Assad regime by western powers has become increasingly real. Soon it may be all but inevitable. But what kind of action, for what purpose, in the service of what larger strategy? All this remains obscure.
Syria: intervention - or the great power game?
Lu, 17/06/2013
Revolutions of aspiration and expectation
Political transitions from autocracy to democracy are a dangerous time. Risks of conflict are high as new regimes struggle to build or rebuild vital institutions and manage public expectation for rapid change – both political and economic.
Sharing experiences of democracy
Earlier this month youth leaders from 15 Lebanese political parties (pictured) travelled with International Alert to Switzerland to learn about the Swiss experience of democracy.
The trip, which included representatives from a broad range of political parties in Lebanon, focused on how the Swiss manage plurality in politics and governance.
Youth politics in Lebanon
Last month representatives from the youth wings of 18 political parties in Lebanon shared a joint declaration on the rights of Palestinian refugees. The declaration was the result of a series of discussions supported by International Alert to encourage peaceful debate among the political parties in the country.
Peace Talks
International Alert is proud to present its new annual report, “Peace Talks”, which looks back at Alert’s work and impact in 2011 – when Alert celebrated its 25th year – using dialogue as a theme.
International Alert is proud to present its new annual report, “Peace Talks”, which looks back at Alert’s work and impact in 2011 – when Alert celebrated its 25th year – using dialogue as a theme.
What women can do for peace
Emerging Voices: Young Women in Lebanese Politics
Although Lebanon is known in the Middle East for its relative political openness and for the degree of freedom Lebanese women enjoy, it paradoxically has one of the lowest rates of women’s political engagement in the region. This report examines the extent to which women are currently involved in politics in Lebanon, as well as the opportunities for increasing their involvement, by drawing on Alert’s work with the youth wings of Lebanese political parties and a conference Alert held on the topic of promoting gender equality in political parties.
An examination of the extent to which women are currently involved in politics in Lebanon, as well as the opportunities for increasing their involvement.
Lebanon
International Alert’s engagement in Lebanon began in 2009. Alert’s long-term goal in Lebanon is to contribute to a political process that reconciles the desires of its diverse communities for security, freedom and development with the interests of an equitable, democratic and peaceful Lebanese nation. Through our work, Alert seeks to contribute to the management of Lebanon’s multiple conflicts without recourse to, or the threat of, violence.
Location
International Alert at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival
The Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to London from 24th March – 1st April with a programme packed full of documentaries and dramas set to inspire, inform and trigger debate. This year, in association with the Festival, we are proud to present the opening night film – the UK premiere of Denis Villeneuve’s Academy Award-nominated Incendies.
International Companies and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
The role of international companies in post-conflict reconstruction is an essential complement to the work of international aid agencies. However, if policy-makers are to secure the maximum benefits from private investment, they need to understand how different companies and sectors view opportunity and risk, and find ways to assess their overall impact in post-conflict settings.
In development circles, the debate about the role of business in conflict-affected regions has tended to focus on petroleum and mining. This paper begins with a review of the extractive industries, but then broadens the discussion to discuss three other sectors: mobile phones, construction and commercial banks. It cites examples from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Timor- Leste.
UN SC Resolution 1325 Women, Peace and Security
Afghanistan– General Information
A report on the first ever Afghan consultation on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The consultation was organised by International Alert's Gender and Peacebuilding Programme and the Afghan Civil Society Forum (ACSF).
Local Business Local Peace
This publication makes the case that the local business community in conflict-affected countries can and should play a role in building peace. Linking up with other peacebuilding actors, and taking advantage of their own resources and skills, business communities should address socio-economic, security, political and reconciliation dimensions of peacebuilding. Section 1 is divided into 5 thematic chapters, and Section 2 contains 19 country case studies. Executive Summaries are also available in Spanish and French.
The local business community in conflict-affected countries can and should play a role in building peace by linking up with other peacebuilding actors, and taking advantage of their own resources and skills.
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