Peace Picks May 20-24

1. #CyberspaceIRL: Rule of Law Approaches to Virtual Threats|Tuesday, May 21^st|9am-5:30pm|United States Institute of Peace|2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037|Register Here

A $600 billion black market, cybercrime has transformed the digital world into a sophisticated platform to steal and profit from personal data, undermine civil rights, manipulate elections, disseminate anti-democratic propaganda, and steal intelligence. Yet, cyberspaces remain largely unregulated. This lack of governance is a major challenge and concern for legal practitioners, human rights champions, and policymakers. To properly address the complex world of cybercrimes, these key players must work together to prioritize targeted strategies encompassing cross-jurisdictional cooperation, both locally and globally. 

Join the U.S. Institute of Peace as we co-host the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative’s 2019 Annual Conference. Bringing together representatives from academia, national security, and the private and public sectors, this conference will identify rule of law strategies to more effectively address this ever-changing landscape. 

#CyberspaceIRL will assess whether current approaches are sufficient in addressing the complexity of issues such as money laundering, trafficking, election security, and internet freedom, and identify the breadth of actors who must be part of devising and implementing effective strategies and solutions.

Agenda:

8:30am – 9:00am – Registration (coffee/pastries)
9:00 – 9:15 – Welcome and Introductions

David Yang, Vice President, Applied Conflict Transformation, U.S. Institute of Peace

Alberto Mora, Director, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative

Judge Margaret McKeown, Board Chair, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative

 9:20am – 9:50am – Keynote: “Setting the Stage for the Clash of Norms in Cyberspace”

Sujit Raman, Associate Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice 

10:00am – 11:15am – Breakout Sessions

Legal Frameworks and Regional Initiatives

Rob Leventhal, moderator, Deputy Office Director, Office of Anticrime Programs, U.S. Department of State

Manuel de Almeida Pereira, Senior Legal Officer, Programme Manager, Council of Europe

Kenn Kern, Chief Information Officer, Special Assistant, International Relations, New York County District Attorney’s Office

Election Security and the Erosion of Trust in Democratic Institutions

Jonas Claes, moderator, Preventing Election Violence Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace

Katherine Ellena, Legal Advisor, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

Harvey Rishikof, Visiting Professor, Temple Law, former senior policy advisor to the director of national counterintelligence at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Saleela Salahuddin, Cybersecurity Policy Lead, Facebook

11:25am – 12:15pm – Plenary: The Tipping Point: When is Cyber Incitement Responsible for Violence? (the case of Burma/Myanmar)

Lata Nott, moderator, Executive Director of the First Amendment Center at the Newseum 

Molly Land, Associate Director of the University of Connecticut’s Human Rights Institute and Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law 

Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, Finance and Economics Expert Panel of Experts Established pursuant to UNSCR 1874

Richard Ashby Wilson, Gladstein Distinguished Chair of Human Rights and Professor of Law and Anthropology,  University of Connecticut School of Law 

12:15pm – 1:00pm – Lunch

1:00pm – 2:15pm – Breakout Sessions

Cybercrime Enforcement: Deterring State and Non-State Actors through Criminal Prosecutions 

Steven M. Kelly, moderator, Chief of Cyber Policy of the Cyber Division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Luke Dembosky, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton

Michael J. Stawasz, Deputy Chief for Computer Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

Sean Newell, Deputy Chief for Cyber, U.S. Department of Justice, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section

William Lyne, Liaison Officer, National Crime Agency, British Embassy to the United States

When Bitcoin Goes Bad: How Virtual Currencies Challenge the Rule of Law

Adam Zarazinski, moderator, CEO, Inca Digital Securities

Elisabeth Poteat, Attorney, Department of Justice, National Security Division

Michael Sachs, Chief, Investigative Division, New York County District Attorney’s Office

Yaya J. Fanusie, Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

2:30pm – 3:45pm – Breakout Sessions

Internet Freedom: Protecting the Good Guys while Catching the Bad Guys

Heather West, moderator, Senior Policy Manager at Mozilla

Andrea Little Limbago, Chief Social Scientist of Virtru

Bill Marczak, Research Fellow at Citizen Lab, and a Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Berkeley

Robyn Greene, Privacy Policy Manager, Facebook

Trafficking in the Digital Age

Jessie Tannenbaum, moderator, Legal Advisor, Research, Evaluation, and Learning Division, ABA ROLI

Danielle Kessler, Senior Policy and Outreach Manager, International Fund for Animal Welfare

Evan Ratliff, Journalist and author of The Mastermind: Drugs, Empire, Murder, Betrayal

Robert E. Bornstein, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, Branch 1 of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office

3:45pm – 4:30pm – Closing Keynote Session: “Shaping the Future of the Cyber Landscape”

Glenn S. Gerstell, General Counsel, National Security Agency

Judge James E. Baker, ROLI Board & Syracuse University

4:30pm – 5:30pm – Reception

2. Visegrad Countries in the Transatlantic Alliance – Common Security, Shared Challenges|Tuesday, May 21^st|10:30pm-12:00pm|Heritage Foundation|Lehrman Auditorium, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002| Register Here

The event cohosted by the Heritage Foundation and the Antall József Knowledge Center in Budapest, Hungary, will explore the diplomatic, economic, military and political importance of the V4. A special focus of the event will be relations between the Visegrád and the United States, how the region can one day develop into an anchor of U.S. engagement in Europe and continue contributing to robust transatlantic cooperation.

Panel:

Dušan Fischer, Project Manager, Air Force and Counter-Air Defense Projects Unit, Modernization Department, Ministry of Defence, Slovak Republic

Dominik P. Jankowski, Political Advisor & Head of the Political Section at the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Poland to NATO

Hynek Kmoníček, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States

László Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary to the United States

Moderated by:

Péter Stepper, Research Fellow, Editor, Antall József Knowledge Center

Hosted by:

James Carafano, Ph.D., Vice President and E.W. Richardson Fellow, Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

Veronika Antall-Horváth, Deputy Director Antall József Knowledge Center

3. Violence Prevention in Southern Somalia|Tuesday, May 21^st| 1pm-2:30pm|New America|740 15^thSt NW #900, Washington, DC 20005|Register Here

New America’s International Security Program and Peace Direct invite you to join them for a lunchtime panel discussion on violence prevention in southern Somalia. In March 2019, the capital city of Mogadishu saw seven terrorist attacks by Al-Shabaab in a single week. That, coupled with a recent uptick in counterterrorism ground, air, and drone strikes by the United States in cooperation with the government of Somalia, has called into question what it will take to establish peace in the southern part of the country.Peace Direct’s partner organization in Somalia, Social-Life and Agricultural Development Organization(SADO), has been working in the region for over two decades, looking at sustainable, people and community-centered development.

Topics that will be covered during the session include:

• What are the current obstacles and opportunities for peace in Somalia?
• Perspectives and recommendations from local peacebuilders on advancing peace in Somalia.
• What does practical violence prevention work in Somalia look like?
• What is the role of women in violence prevention?
• What is the role of U.S. policy in Somalia and what are recommendations for improving U.S. engagement?

Introductory Remarks:
Bridget Moix, U.S. Senior Representative and Head of Advocacy, Peace Direct

Panelists:
Isse Abdullahi, Director, Social-Life and Agricultural Development Organization (SADO)
Pauline Muchina, Public Education and Advocacy Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee’s Africa region

Moderator:
Melissa Salyk-Virk, Policy Analyst, New America’s International Security Program

4. Is the Venezuela Crisis Becoming a Proxy Conflict?|Tuesday, May 21^st|3:30pm-5pm|Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|1779 Massachusetts Ave NW|Register Here

Join Carnegie and the Inter-American Dialogue for a timely conversation about the geopolitical implications of the Venezuela crisis. Top Trump administration officials have repeatedly criticized Cuban, Russian, and Chinese backing for the Maduro regime, but they are struggling to change the situation on the ground. What is the strategic calculus propelling outside powers’ involvement in Venezuela? What risks does deeper foreign intervention in the crisis pose for the fate of the Venezuelan opposition led by interim President Juan Guaidó and the region as a whole?

Speakers:

Rebecca Bill Chavez, nonresident senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Western Hemisphere affairs

Alexander Gabuev, senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center

Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue

Francisco Toro, founder of Caracas Chronicles and opinion columnist for the Washington Post

5. Europe after the European Election|Wednesday, May 22^nd|1pm-2:30pm|American Enterprise Institute|Auditorium, 1789 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036|Register Here

While populism continues to be a dominant factor shaping Europe’s politics, the simplistic overuse of the label often obfuscates Europe’s actual political dynamics. Rather than populism, what makes the 2019 European election so significant is the degree of political fragmentation that will likely characterize the results. In all likelihood, power will continue to shift away from the once-dominant political families on the center right and the center left. How will that affect the composition of the future European Commission? Will it make the EU more difficult to govern? And why should Americans care?

Join Amb. Santiago Cabanas, Ben Judah, and Yascha Mounk— alongside AEI’s Dalibor Rohac and Stan Veuger— as they discuss Europe’s challenges and the way forward.

Agenda:

12:45 PM
Registration

1:00 PM
Welcome:
Dalibor Rohac, AEI

1:05 PM
Panel discussion

Panelists:
Santiago Cabanas, Ambassador of Spain
Ben Judah, Hudson Institute
Yascha Mounk, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Dalibor Rohac, AEI

Moderator:
Stan Veuger, AEI

2:10 PM
Q&A

2:30 PM
Adjournment

6. Managing Forced Displacement in Africa: How Collective Efforts Can More Effectively Address the Surge of Refugees and Displaced Persons|Thursday, May 23rd|9am-11am|United States Institute for Peace|2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037|Register Here

Africa hosts more than one-third of the world’s refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). This growing phenomenon impacts not only those fleeing conflict, but also the host communities and countries who now face complex logistical and humanitarian challenges. A comprehensive response to this problem must seek to address root causes, thereby preventing further displacement, and also find durable solutions for the many millions already displaced.

Join the U.S. Institute of Peace, the African Ambassadors Group, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars for a discussion on forced displacement in Africa. The panel conversation will highlight African policy responses to displacement at the national, regional, and continental level, discuss current and anticipated challenges, and brainstorm innovative approaches. Follow the conversation with #AfricaDayUSIP.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Speakers:

H.E. Soorooj Phokeer, opening and closing remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius

Carol Thompson O’Connell, opening remarks, Acting Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State

Ger Duany, Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the East and Horn of Africa, UNHCR

H.E. Wilson Mutagaywa Kajumula Masilingi , Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania

H.E Mull Ssebujja Katende, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda

Nancy Lindborg, moderator, President, U.S. Institute of Peace

7. Powering the US-Japan Alliance| Thursday, May 23^rd|11:30-1pm|Atlantic Council|1030 15^thSt NW, 12^thFloor, Washington, DC 20005|Register Here

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Asia Security Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and the Global Energy Center for a discussion of how energy dependence on the Middle East is shaping Japan’s quest for energy security, prospects for US-Japan strategic cooperation, and the future of energy security in Asia.

Japan’s newest strategic energy plan promises to address domestic structural energy issues in the context of broader shifts in global energy trends. If successful, the new strategy will deliver significant improvements in efficiency, emissions, cost, and self-sufficiency by 2030, and again by 2050. At the same time, Japan, like much of Asia, continues to depend heavily on the Middle East for hydrocarbon imports. How is energy dependence on the Middle East shaping Asian geopolitics and strategic prospects for the US-Japan alliance? How feasible are Japan’s efforts to reduce its dependence on energy imports, and what does it mean for Japan’s relationships with the Middle East? How are infrastructure projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy re-shaping energy geopolitics between both regions? Ultimately, what can the US-Japan alliance do to ensure energy security in a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific?

Lunch will be provided.

Featuring:

Prof. Koichiro Tanaka, Keio University and President of the Japanese Institute of Middle Eastern Economies

Ms. Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Mr. Mikkal E. Herberg, Senior Advisor National Bureau of Asian Research

Dr. Miyeon Oh, Director and Senior Fellow of the Asia Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

8. Negotiating with China during Peacetime, Crisis and Conflict|Thursday, May 23^rd|2:30pm-4pm|American Enterprise Institute|Auditorium, 1789 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036|Register Here

While there is no shortage of discussion about how war between the US and China could break out, few have asked how such a war might end. During crisis or conflict, how can we draw China to the negotiating table? How has China historically ended its wars, and how might this inform how the US approaches China diplomatically in peacetime, crisis, and war?

In her new book, “The Costs of Conversation: Obstacles to Peace Talks in Wartime” (Cornell University Press, 2019), Oriana Skylar Mastro asks: How can we get from fighting to talking? Join Dr. Mastro, Susan Thornton and Tom as they discuss US diplomacy with China in an era of great-power competition.

Agenda:

2:15 PM
Registration

2:30 PM
Welcome and summary of the book:
Oriana Skylar Mastro, AEI

2:45 PM
Panel discussion

Participants:
Thomas J. Christensen, Columbia University
Susan A. Thornton, Yale University

Moderator:
Oriana Skylar Mastro, AEI

3:30 PM
Q&A

4:00 PM
Adjournment