Increasing the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping is one of the highest priorities for the United States at the United Nations. Multilateral peacekeeping shares the risks and responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security, and is a cost-effective way to help achieve U.S. strategic and humanitarian interests.

Last Tuesday at noon, September 14, The Ashby Residential College hosted, "Women as a Barometer of Success in Post Conflict," presented by speaker Ms. Manal Omar. Omar is the Director of Iraq Programs under the Center for Post-conflict Peace and Stability Operations at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The USIP is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress.

The documentary, This Is Our Witness, opens with a truly horrifying scene—Burmese soldiers urinating on Burmese women prisoners. “This film will tear at your soul,” said Nobel Peace Laureate Maighread Maguire in her introduction. “We must all weep for Burma's women. But the film will also encourage you to act.”

Consultant - Expert Police Trainer- Violence Against Women (VAW)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing date: 30 Sep 2010
Location: Iraq

This year marks the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security. The landmark resolution, known as Resolution 1325, was passed on October 31st, 2000, and for the first time recognized the role women have to play in peace-building.

There has been a concerted effort by Tehran to conflate opposition to the Iranian regime, its human rights abuses, and its inherent and deeply ingrained misogyny, with beating the drums of war. Tehran has managed to take advantage of some anti-war groups to line up support for its murderous behavior. The aim is to insinuate the notion that "if you are against the Iranian regime, you are for war with Iran."

Today was Day Two of the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City. The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) was created by President Bill Clinton in 2005 to build alliances, partnerships, and collaborations between governments, the private sector, NGOs, and other global leaders to confront the world's most pressing problems.

The four main focus areas of this year's meeting are:

On this United Nation's anniversary day for Universal Peace

The United Nations has released its latest report on the State of the World's Population.