U.S. Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Post-conflict reconstruction has become a high priority for the United States in recent years, and reconstruction is arguably a matter of national security.  What are the objectives behind the U.S. approach to post-conflict reconstruction?  Is a new division of responsibilities among the national security, foreign policy, and foreign aid agencies of the U.S. required?  Do American priorities for reconstruction complement the objectives of international institutions?

UN Policy: The Peacebuilding Commission

The international community's approach to post-conflict reconstruction has been entrusted to a newly created institution at the UN: The Peacebuilding Commission.  The PBC was created in 2006 and is tasked w/ coordinating the UN's response to conflict and developing an integrated strategy for post-conflict reconstruction.  This panel will take stock of the PBC's first year in action by assessing (i) the role of the PBC in the UN system; (ii) the integrated peace strategy and rule of law effort generally; (iii) the PBC's work in Burundi and Sierra Leone; and (iv) the priorities and operations of the Peace Building Fund.

Justice and the Rule of Law after Conflict:  Special Courts

Special courts have become common features of post-conflict architecture, as illustrated by Cambodia, Sierra Leone, and East Timor.  These courts are created to deal with serious human rights abuses and war crimes committed during the conflict.  Do prosecutions help establish the rule of law in post-conflict societies?  Do they undermine or usefully complement social justice and economic development initiatives in the aftermath of conflict?  How can economic development, rule of law, and transitional justice efforts be coordinated to best advance the goals of long-term peace and reconciliation?  This panel will discuss the longer term relationship of special courts to peace and reconciliation.

The Role of the Private Sector and International Financial Institutions in Reconstruction

Economic recovery is central to peace; World Bank studies show that the likelihood that a country will collapse into renewed conflict is statistically linked to economic development.  This panel will assess the growing role of IFIs, such as the World Bank, and the private sector in post-conflict reconstruction.  The objectives will be to (i) identify the main obstacles to economic development after war; (ii) set out how strategies for post-conflict reconstruction differ from those for economic development generally; (iii) discuss the sectors in which the private sector tends to encage (such as telecommunications and extractive industries); and (iv) discuss whether post-conflict economic development is compatible with other goals such as peace, reconciliation, and the promotion of social and economic rights.

Women and Peacebuilding

Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) recognized the important role that women do, can, and should actively play in prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding.  This panel will explore whether this recognition has translated into action over the past seven years.  Have women been included in recent peace negotiations?  Have women's rights been reflected and respected in recent transitions from conflict to peace?  What more can be done to include women's voices, ideas, and wisdom in peace and transitional justice processes?  How does trafficking in women affect peacebuilding?  Finally, can the UN Peacebuilding Commission work to enhance the role of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.