Think Pieces
Egypt and US Share Counterproductive Anti-Terrorism Strategies
By Rana Allam
Perhaps the meeting between McGurk and Sisi on defeating ISIS involved sharing the counter-productive efforts of both countries.
Iran: The Change that Matters Is Happening Already
By Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Sina Azodi
The change in the Iranian political sphere is prompted by the dynamic transformation of its social and cultural space since 1979. One of the best indicators of this transformation is the status of women, who have been key players all along.
Preventing Violent Extremism through Peacebuilding: Current Perspectives from the Field
By Melinda Holmes
The fields of peacebuilding and development are increasingly contending with violent extremism and the question of how to engage with the practical and policy implications of efforts to prevent it. The 2017 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development took on this question with a session devoted to ‘Preventing Violent Extremism through Peacebuilding.’
Wonder Women, Peace Heroes and Human Security
By Devin Cowick
Despite being left out of formal negotiation processes, women have been at the front lines of peace and security efforts from the beginning.
UN Peacekeepers’ Sexual Assault Problem
By Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini
Sexual abuse by peacekeeping forces demands the international community’s attention. Sanam discusses how to end it once and for all.
Violence against women and extremism are intrinsically linked: overlooking this puts rights at risk
By Sussan Tahmasebi
Religious groups we work with, in the fight against extremism, must have a commitment to universal rights – as well as peace.
Sisi’s Failing Fight
By Rana Allam
On Friday, 28 Coptic Christians, including many children, were gunned down while on their way to a monastery near the Upper Egyptian city of Minya.
Rouhani’s Unlikely Supporters
By Sussan Tahmasebi
According to the polls, incumbent Hassan Rouhani is the frontrunner in Iran’s upcoming presidential elections, which will be held on May 19.
Women and the Iranian Elections
By Sussan Tahmasebi
Sussan breaks down what Iran’s upcoming elections could mean for women’s rights in the country, and finds hope in the efforts of women civil society activists.
UN Counterterrorism Reform Overlooks Crucial Partner
By Eric Rosand and Sanam Naraghi Anderlini
Yet again the UN failed to reach out and listen to the solutions and recommendations that civil society had to offer.