Armed conflict no longer unfolds solely on the battlefield. It is fought fiercely along digital frontlines—from disinformation campaigns that aim to erode public trust in leaders and institutions, exacerbate tensions among identity groups, and sometimes undermine peace to cyberattacks that disrupt or destroy critical systems. In Sudan’s civil war between the army and the paramilitary […] The post Adapting Peacemaking to Conflict in the Digital Age: Six Priorities for Mediation appeared ...| IPI Global Observatory
President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan and the New York Declaration on a two-state solution have created an opening for peace in Gaza—though one that is fragile and fraught with danger. These blueprints are wide in scope but light on detail where it matters, including on stabilization support, which must be carefully designed if it […] The post Getting Stabilization Right in Gaza appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed the escalating militarization of American cities, deadly violations of the Gaza ceasefire by Israel, genocidal atrocities in Sudan, and the killing of democracy activists in Tanzania. These crises share a common thread: systems of war and authoritarianism are mutually sustaining and undermine true security for people around the world.This offers […] The post To Confront Authoritarianism and Militarism, WPS Advocates Must Form a Broader Movement for Peace a...| IPI Global Observatory
This December, the mandate of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) comes up for its periodic renewal. Established 20 years ago to support diplomats on the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, CTED occupies an unusual position in the UN system: it is a special […] The post CTED’s Mandate Renewal: A Chance to Assess the Future of Security Council Counterterrorism Efforts appeared first...| IPI Global Observatory
Around 1.3 billion people experience significant disability—around 16% of the world’s population. This number is generally even higher in conflict-affected areas. Yet persons with disabilities are relatively invisible in humanitarian action, peacebuilding efforts, and other activities across the peace continuum. We are now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the women, peace, and security agenda and the […]| IPI Global Observatory
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the passage of Resolution 1325, which launched the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda. This resolution was groundbreaking for numerous reasons. For one, it was the first resolution to specifically address the way conflict affects women and girls. But it was also remarkable for how it came about: rather […] The post The Grassroots Origins of Resolution 1325: Interview with Sanam Naraghi Anderlini appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
Never has the cliché that we are at a pivotal moment in Middle East diplomacy been more accurate. Yet at this critical juncture, the post of UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) has remained vacant for months. It is time to appoint a new envoy and restore the UN’s political role […] The post It’s Time to Restore the UN’s Political Role in the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
It has now been more than four years since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021. During that time, they have steadily escalated restrictions on the rights of women and girls—from banning girls from secondary education to barring women from most sectors of the workforce. These restrictions were codified in the 2024 Law […] The post Afghanistan’s Gender Apartheid Is Only Getting Worse—Interview with Nargis Nehan appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
This month marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security (WPS). What is the state of the WPS agenda 25 years on? While the WPS agenda has gained broad acceptance, it faces growing headwinds at the global level.Yet as Toni Haastrup argues in this interview, we need to […] The post For the Future of WPS, Look beyond the UN: Interview with Toni Haastrup appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
We concluded our recent book, Governing the Feminist Peace, with an exhortation to “forget WPS”—to abandon attempts to force coherence onto an agenda that had become so sprawling and intricate over its first two decades. Imagine our horror when US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth proudly announced on Elon Musk’s X earlier this year that […] The post Forgetting WPS: On Being Careful What You Wish For appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
The year 2015 was a landmark moment for multilateralism. In September, leaders from around the world adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, charting a roadmap to a just and sustainable future. And in December, world leaders once again came together to adopt the Paris Agreement, collectively committing to tackle global warming.In 2025, the pendulum […] The post Reimagining Climate Diplomacy: How the Lines of Power and Multilateralism Are Being Redrawn appeared first on IPI Glob...| IPI Global Observatory
In 2024, global military expenditures reached $2.7 trillion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This represents a 9.4% increase in real terms over 2023, the highest year-on-year rise since the end of the Cold War. All world regions have shown substantial increases over the past decade, except for Africa and South America.These […] The post Soaring Global Military Spending Is Sidelining the SDGs appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
This year’s High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, marking the organization’s 80th anniversary, underscored a growing legitimacy crisis in global development. Deep cuts to official development assistance by wealthy countries, particularly the United States, have triggered a broader reckoning over the credibility of the aid system itself. What was once portrayed as partnership is […] The post Reclaiming Development: Africa’s Voice at the UN’s 80th Anniversary appeared first on I...| IPI Global Observatory
Africa is taking on increasing geostrategic importance in the evolving global order. The dispersion of power away from a hegemonic, Western core, heightened geopolitical tensions, and growing contestation over values have brought to the fore questions about the constitution of this order and the role of various actors in shaping it. Traditionally, discourse about Africa’s […] The post In a Changing Global Order, Africa Is Embracing Its Agency appeared first on IPI Global Observatory.| IPI Global Observatory
The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) is fast approaching. In Belém, where the Amazon River meets the Brazilian coast, diplomats must agree on a package of outcomes that keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, centers on nationally […]| IPI Global Observatory
In August 2025, the United Nations adopted a resolution forming the International Scientific Panel on AI (ISP-AI). This was the culmination of several years of work, beginning with the creation of the secretary-general’s AI Advisory Body in 2023. Two of the AI Advisory Body’s final recommendations—the ISP-AI and the creation of the Global Dialogues on […]| IPI Global Observatory
The current state of “no war no peace” in northern Ethiopia seems to be preserved only by the rainy season’s predictable afternoon showers and relatively chill air. Tigrayans are making anxious preparations—“stocking up on emergency supplies and withdrawing their savings from the bank”—before the rainy season winds down.The Pretoria Agreement, signed in November 2022, silenced […]| IPI Global Observatory
