A weekly bulletin providing Peacebuild members with information on events, job postings and other items of interest related to the peacebuilding field.

Peacebuild is a network of Canadian organizations and individuals engaged in activities related to addressing the causes and consequences of violent conflict.

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Peacebuild,
The Canadian
Peacebuilding Network

1, Nicholas Street,
Suite 1216,
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7

Tel: (613) 241-3446
Fax: (613) 241-4846

info@peacebuild.ca
http://www.peacebuild.ca/

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Canada and the Crisis
in Sri Lanka

Following hearings with a wide range of witnesses, The report from members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development call for further urgent action by the Government of Canada, both with like-minded partners and on its own if necessary, to address three interrelated issues: 1) the immediate humanitarian catastrophe in the north of Sri Lanka, which threatens thousands of civilians; 2) the medium-term challenges of reconstruction, resettlement and governance after the current fighting ends; and 3) the longer-term challenges of peace-building and political reconciliation in Sri Lanka following decades of civil war.

Access the blog

Pirates Have Rights,
Bring in the Police

Both the Navy and Prime Minister Harper were harshly criticized for allowing captured Somali pirates to go free. In a new Policy Update just released by CDFAI, Patrick Lennox, argues that the policy options left to Canada for prosecution are complicated and risky. He suggests a new way in which Canada can prosecute pirates with far fewer risks.

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Recent Trends in the Arms Trade

This paper by SPIRI presents the latest available data on international transfers of major conventional weapons (section II)—including data on the financial value of the international arms trade and on the international trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW)—global military spending (section III) and global arms production (section IV) and describes recent developments in international arms export control policies (section V). Except where stated, information on arms transfers, arms production and military expenditure is derived from the relevant SIPRI databases.

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Private Military and Security Companies:
A Framework for Regulation

During 2008, the International Peace Institute (IPI) reviewed thirty standards implementation and enforcement frameworks in a range of global industries, including the financial, extractive, textile and apparel, chemical, toy, toxic-waste disposal, sporting, and veterinary sectors, to identify how such a framework might be constructed for the global security industry (GSI). The result was a nearly 200-page study, Beyond Market Forces: Regulating the Global Security Industry. A consultation draft of the study was commented on by a diverse set of industry stakeholders. This policy report summarizes the resulting key policy options.

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Congo: Five Priorities
for a Peacebuilding Strategy

The latest report from the International Crisis Group, analyses the situation on the ground in the wake of the five-week joint military operation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda against Rwandan Hutu rebels, the Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), in the Kivus. That effort did not produce significant results and highlights the need for a new tack. The report presents a five-point strategy to drive a renewed process forward.

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She of a thousand arms:
Participatory Research
on the Condition of Women
in the DRC

Presented by Peacebuild's Gender and Peacebuilding
Working Group

Violeta Manoukian
Specialist in participatory approaches to development and poverty reduction. She has worked with several United Nations organizations as well as with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 11:a.m.

1 Nicholas, 10th floor,
Canadem Boardroom, Ottawa

For more information please contact Kate McInturff, Coordinator, Gender and Peacebuilding Working Group Email: gender@peacebuild.ca

Conflict Transformation
in Afghanistan and Pakistan:
The Role of Europe and Canada,
Help Wanted?

The North-South Institute and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Canada is organizing a public event on the role of NATO allies such as Canada and Germany in the aftermath of the recent United States policy review. The discussion will address the growing recognition that democratic institution building, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan cannot be successful without a regional approach. More effective engagement with Afghanistan's neighbours - particularly Pakistan - is seen by some experts as crucial to reducing the current instability

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

National Library and Archives,
Room A
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario

Speakers:

Ambassador Francesc Vendrell, Professor of International Policy, Princeton University, and former EU Special Representative to Afghanistan
Janice Stein, Director, Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto
Admiral William J. Fallon, Former Commander US CENTCOM

Please confirm your attendance by e-mail at events@nsi-ins.ca by 12 p.m. on May 28th. Admission is free but space is limited. For more information please call 613-241-3535 - ext 245 or email at events@nsi-ins.ca